2. Setting the Stage for Africa

Abstract

By the late colonial period in Brazil, only a handful of sites were used in Portuguese America as exile locales. After Brazil's independence in the 1820s, the authorities in Lisbon would continue the centuries long tradition of exile as punishment using all the remaining locations in the Portuguese Empire. By the mid eighteenth century, much of the judicial system had turned to colonial Brazil as a convenient location to send convicts. The most significant attempt at reform of the penal code using degredo and overseas colonies was put forward by Luis Augusto Rebelo da Silva in 1869 in his capacity as Overseas Minister. Many aspects of penal reform in nineteenth century Portugal supported the continuation of a centuries-long practice now linked with penal transportation to the colonies. The creation of the Lisbon Geographical Society was a major facet of the renewed interest in the African colonies.Keywords: Africa; Lisbon Geographical Society; Portuguese America