The Golden Age of Brazil 1695-1750

In The Golden Age of Brazil, 1695–1750, historian C. R. Boxer explores one of the most dynamic yet turbulent periods in the Portuguese empire. With the discovery of vast gold reserves in Minas Gerais, Brazil became a cornerstone of Portugal’s Atlantic world, transforming its economy, society, and political order. Boxer’s richly detailed narrative traces the cascading effects of the gold rush—how sudden wealth fueled social mobility, intensified slavery and contraband, provoked conflicts like the Paulistas versus Emboabas, and drew the colony ever deeper into global trade networks. His analysis shows how Brazil’s prosperity was precariously balanced on forced labor, uneven development, and metropolitan extraction.

At the same time, Boxer brings to life the cultural, religious, and urban landscapes that flourished during this era. He reconstructs the rhythms of colonial towns from Bahia to Ouro Preto, where planters, merchants, clergy, and miners clashed and collaborated. By situating Brazil within broader Atlantic currents—from West African slave routes to European wars—he demonstrates how colonial society bore the “growing pains” of integration into a world economy. More than a narrative of riches and power, this book offers a sober appraisal of the contradictions of empire: extraordinary opulence alongside deepening inequality, resilience amidst recurring unrest. It remains a landmark study for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of Brazil’s so-called golden age.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1962.