Sports, Leisure and Economic Development in Ilhéus (c. 1890-1930)

ABSTRACT The article analyzes the early sport’s history in Ilhéus, as well as the circumstances that may explain how this process took place. The case of Ilhéus shows the development of these practices in a context where the urbanization was still incipient. Most of the population of the city at that time resided in rural areas and was involved in agricultural work. Such circumstances, however, did not prevent the flourishing of sports and other leisure practices. On the contrary, it was an economic development almost entirely supported by agricultural activities that created the conditions for the emergence of sports in Ilhéus. However, the nature of the modernization allowed by the agricultural economy was also the main obstacle to sustaining and expanding the scope of this process.