The plantation system is the name given to an agricultural economic system that prevailed during colonial Brazil. It was also used in other countries of America during the Spanish and English colonizations.
Abstract
This system already existed in antiquity and, in the case of Portugal, the country already mastered the techniques since they already used the techniques developed in colonies in Africa and in other places such as the Azores Archipelago and Madeira Island.
In other words, the plantation is a system of colonial exploitation that prevailed between the 15th and 19th centuries in monoculture plantations focused on exports, which were sent to the metropolis, thus supplying European consumer markets and generating high profits.
The plantation system was introduced in the colonies of America because the soil in these places was fertile and the climate was favorable for the planting of several species of vegetables.
In Brazil, sugarcane, coffee and cotton were the main products cultivated in this system during the colonial period. In the country, this model of economic organization was the most important during the colony's exploration in the first years of Portuguese conquest.
In this way, the exploitation of land on this side of the ocean completed the domestic market of several European countries, since it was essentially geared towards the export of these cultivated products. In such a way, these products were taken and sold in Europe, thus guaranteeing the profit of the exploring countries.
The commercial cycle of the plantation system generated a triangular trade, where the products produced were sent to Europe in exchange for other products, which were used to buy African slaves, who were sent to work on the large estates.
Although this system has been in force in the past, it is possible to find similar systems today in Brazil (with soy, sugar, coffee, orange, cotton, tobacco, etc.) and in other underdeveloped countries. It is worth remembering that this term in English means “plantation”.
Characteristics
The main features of the plantation system are:
- Monoculture :planting a single agricultural product in large quantities, mainly tropical products.
- Latifundia :use of large tracts of land for large-scale production, which was subject to an explorer (the landowner).
- Slavery System :the slaves (blacks and Indians) were the main workforce that worked in the great extensions of land. The salary did not exist and the exchange was for housing and food.
- Foreign Market :the production of products grown in the plantation system were aimed at enriching the foreign market, that is, for export. In this sense, the internal economy was left out and what remained in the country were low quality products. This prevented the growth and development of the domestic market at that time.
Learn more about the topic by reading the articles :
- Colonial Brazil
- Colonial Pact
- Slavery in Brazil