A magia do novo. Índios cristãos nas fronteiras da Amazônia colonial

Abstract

This article deals with the dynamic invention processes of new identities, beliefs and forms of living produced by Christian Indians in the borders of the Colonial Amazon. These borders were constituted as Zones of Contact among different groups: Indians, whites, blacks or mixed races. That colonial space became, because of popular religion and magical mentality, a multiple dialogue space in which new meanings were built within traditional cultural patterns. Using the inquisition sources, the reading of witchcraft was taken as producers of new meanings and new life forms.

Keywords

• identities
• colonial history
• Amazonia
• 18th century
• indigenous history
• inquisition