Using science to reinforce an imperial identity: the Cartography Commission and Portuguese colonial politics in the Scramble for Africa

Description

The purpose of this communication is to discuss how science was mobilized to defend Portuguese colonial interests in Africa, thus reinforcing its identity as an imperial nation. In 1883, a Cartography Commission was founded in the Ministry of the Navy and Overseas Territories. Its main aim was to coordinate the production of cartography relative to the Portuguese Empire in order to generate useful knowledge for the definition of the country’s colonial policy. The Commission was founded by the Minister himself, J. V. Barbosa du Bocage (1823–1907), a zoologist who had a rapid political rise due to his expertise on African matters, which he derived as President of the Lisbon Geographical Society. As a scientific expert, Bocage understood the power of science to gain competitive advantage over greater colonial powers that joined the Scramble for Africa. Securing colonial territories in Africa was a national mandate, since they were perceived as a symbol of power that protected the sovereignty of the small Portuguese nation in a Europe increasingly dominated by vaster and stronger states, even if there was scant data on the economic relevance these colonies would have for the metropolis.

Period	21 May 2021
Event title	Building National Character: Science, politics and citizenship in 19th and 20th century Europe
Event type	Workshop
Location	London, United KingdomShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International