Thomaz do Bomfim Espíndola e o pensamento geográfico na província das Alagoas (1844-1871)

Abstract

Born in Maceió and graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Bahia (1853), Thomaz do Bomfim Espíndola (1832-1889) became one of the main intellectuals in the province of Alagoas and in Brazil in the mid-19th century. Despite his training in the medical field, Espíndola produced an important geographical work on the province, such as his Physical, political, historical and administrative geography of the province of Alagoas, from 1860. For his pioneering work in this field, he is recognized as one of the founders of Alagoas geography. He had an outstanding participation in science and in the political and administrative life of the province, having been Provincial and General Deputy and Interim President of the same on two occasions. He also held important positions in the provincial administration, such as Inspector General of Instruction and Inspector of Hygiene. In the educational field, he was Professor of Geography, Chronology and History at Liceu Alagoano. He was an effective member of the Instituto Archeologico e Geographico Alagoano (current Instituto Histórico e Geográfico de Alagoas), inaugurated on February 18, 1870, being patron of chair 38 of the institution. From the information gathered, it can be seen that the work produced by the author was decisive in the implementation and, therefore, affirmation of geography in the afore mentioned province. Espíndola had shown himself to be a man of advanced positions at the time in terms of knowledge of the Alagoas territory. In view of this frame of reference, the present work sought to investigate his geographical production in the light of his time-space, as well as unveil his circle of affinities to better understand the objectives of his geography. From a theoretical-methodological point of view, the propositions developed here are aligned with the conceptions of geographic thought and geographic ideology, by Moraes (2005a), and the contextual approach and circle of affinity, conceived by Berdoulay (2003). Rescuing the work produced by Espíndola is imperative in order to expand knowledge about the geography produced in Alagoas and Brazil during the imperial period. His work is a valuable object of study, whose relevance is linked, on the one hand, to the place he occupied in the political and intellectual life of the province and, on the other, to the pioneering spirit and relevance of his work in terms of knowledge of history of geography in Alagoas.