The Imperial Brazil collection, organized by Keila Grinberg and Ricardo Salles, presents historical reflection on 19th-century Brazil, including topics rarely discussed until now. In addition to the panorama from the Joanine period to the crisis of the Empire, the books explore topics rarely or never discussed before. Among them are indigenous policy, national language, ecology, and popular culture. The books present the main contributions of authors from various generations to recent 19th-century historiography. Three volumes are dedicated, respectively, to the Joanine period and the First Reign (1808-1831); the Regency period and the Second Reign (1831-1870); and the period of the Imperial crisis (1870-1889). The works feature chapters by researchers spread across Brazilian universities from north to south. The year 1808 marks the beginning of the first volume of the Imperial Brazil collection. Dedicated to the period 1808 to 1831, generally characterized as the period between the reign of King João VI and the reign of King Pedro I, the book addresses the key political issues that dominated this period of great transformation. The most notable of all was the presence of the Court on American soil: a historic event that changed the course of the then-colony. The social, economic, and cultural characteristics that marked Brazilian society at the time are also the subject of reflection. The second volume addresses the formation of the Brazilian nation from the 1830s to the 1860s. The debate goes beyond the usual dichotomy between anarchy (Regency) and order (Second Regency). The authors do not consider the Court of Rio de Janeiro as the sole reference point for the formation of Brazilian nationality. Thus, the revolts that occurred during the Regency gain importance in the analysis. This time, the objects of study are set between the period of Dom Pedro I's abdication and the confirmation of Dom Pedro II as Emperor of Brazil in 1840. The end of the Paraguayan War in 1870 marked the end of the Empire's apogee, which began with the coronation of Dom Pedro II. Despite victory on the battlefield, the monarchy found itself weakened. Issues, trends, and social, political, and ideological forces contrary to the prevailing order grew stronger, culminating in the proclamation of the Republic. The most important of these themes is slavery. This entire transitional process is analyzed in the third volume of the collection.
