Medicinal Plants and State Policy in South America: The Case of Colonial Brazil

Abstract

The premise that leads our reasoning rests on the view that modern Botany Science was constituted as an instrument of the modern State domination over colonial territories. We could expand this premise for the Portuguese and Spanish domains, especially in South America. However, to well illustrate the theme, this chapter will present a case study on the process of institutionalization of Botany in Portugal and its developments in Brazil, having the plant species and, especially medicinal plants, as the object of analysis. We will point the episteme of natural philosophy as guiding the formation of a new economic policy for the Lusitanian world, increasing the exploration of resources and natural products, including medicinal plants, greatly, from its colonies. Our intention is to address the Botany in a perspective of recognition of its practices and knowledge towards the service of political and economic interests of the State, which will bring implications to the domination process of the Crown in its colonial territories.