Olinda

Olinda, the old capital of Pernambuco, founded in 1537 and center of colonial Brazilian economic activity. Between 1630 and 1654 it was occupied by the Dutch. In the early 1700s, Olinda was the site of the War of the Mascates (1709–1711), a bitter struggle between its resident sugar planters and Recife-based mascates, or merchants, who were their creditors. The planters of Olinda attempted to trade directly with Dutch and English ships, thus bypassing the mascates and crown duties. The Portuguese-born merchants who resided in Recife objected to their lack of representation in the Senado da Câmara of Olinda, which levied the taxes of Recife. Revolt erupted when the crown gave Recife its own câmara in 1710 and hence independence from the political control of Olinda. Its planters retaliated by attacking and capturing the port, but Recife ultimately prevailed as Pernambuco's principal city. Olinda is now a national monument notable for its finely restored churches, monasteries, and convents. As of 2006, Olinda's population was estimated at 387,494.

See alsoPernambuco .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bailey W. Diffie, A History of Colonial Brazil. Malabar, FL: R.E. Krieger Pub. Co., 1987.

Bethell, Leslie, ed. Colonial Brazil (Cambridge History of Latin America). Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2004.

Burns, E. Bradford. A History of Brazil, 3d ed. New York: Columbia University, 1995.

Page, Joseph A., The Brazilians. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley, 1995.

                                    Orlando R. Aragona