“Segundo o estilo do certão”: reflexões sobre o sertão no Piauí do século XVIII

Abstract

This article aims to propose discussions about the backlands category and how it applies to the territory of Piauí in the 18th century. It is worth highlighting the investigative approach about which elements can be found from the sources related to this region, alluding to local specificities on their populations and also on the territory. Another highlight of this work is to analyze to what extent the elements found in the documentation allow the expansion of understanding about the backlands as a historical-spatial category. The present study finds support in a specialized bibliography on the subject, as well as in the documentation regarding the Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino (Overseas Historical Archive) — AHU and Arquivo Público do Estado do Maranhão (Public Archive of the State of Maranhão) — APEM.