A Global Micro-history of a Swiss-owned plantation in Bahia (1820-1888)

AutorIn Name
Izabel
Barros
Academic writing genre
PhD thesis
Status
laufend/en cours
DozentIn Name
Prof.
Bernhard
Schär
Institution
Institut d'études politique
Place
Lausanne
Year
2024/2025
Abstract

My dissertation examines Fazenda Victoria, a major Brazilian plantation (1820-1887), studying the intersection of global history, racial capitalism, and transatlantic slavery, focusing on the experiences of enslaved women and children. It investigates the roles of Swiss plantation owners Gabriel von May (1791-1870) and Ferdinand von Steiger (1825-1887) within Bahia's slave-owning elite, analyzing how their European networks influenced the plantation's operations and broader trans-imperial dynamics. Through international archival research, the study delves into gender, race, and power, offering insights into the complexities of slavery and resistance within a global capitalist framework.