The birth of territory: a review forum
Stephen Legg
In this article, I build upon Warren Dean's hypothesis that if there were more effective means to combat leaf-cutting ants in the colonial era agrarian history of Brazil would have been entirely different. Using wealth scientific research emerged last thirty years, along with experiential accounts from times, try portray as non-human actors actively participated drama Portuguese colonization America. Biogeographically restricted Neotropics, and their horticultural system – underground fungal gardens grown compost made freshly cut pieces leaves, flowers fruits posed a major challenge for farmers, who completely unfamiliar those social insects. The analysis how ant activity has shaped European croplands including native crops by Europeans, such cassava casts new light on certain fundamental developments rural economy, resounding success sugarcane plantations widespread adoption slash-and-burn system. On higher level abstraction, it points importance challenging subtle but pervasive notion New World lands lifeless isotropic surfaces settlement. As far actual tilling earth is concerned, Brazilian not blank background cadastral maps, vibrant life-sites whose bosom local adventitious species cultures negotiated coexistence.
Journal of Historical Geography