Historiography, Nation and Regimes of Autonomy in the Brazilian Empire’s Intellectual Life

This article analysis the rise and evolution of two regimes of intellectual autonomy in the first half of 18th century in Brazil. The paper is focused on this society increasing desire for history and how this desire challenged the writing of history and the historian. It argues the existence of two different regimes of intellectual autonomy related to different ways of historical discourse production. From one side, a compilatory regime focused on the social demands for pragmatic synthesis. This regime was more connected to the editorial market and to a emergent non-specialized readership. From de other side, a disciplinary regime concerned with the production of new forms of legitimacy to its relationship with the modern national state and its institutions.