Abrindo as sete chaves : percurso de estudo em torno das despesas municipais do Porto (1668-1696)

Abstract

This study aims to present the empirical basis that supported our Master thesis. Thought the main purpose of that work was to understand the local expenses system of Porto in the second half of the seventeen century, it was crucial to analyze the behavior as well as the mechanisms of the municipal financial management: the way the book-keeping was done, who was locally responsible for it and who regulated it in behalf of the central power. Therefore, the exam of the production information mechanisms (local sources) and their control could be the keys to understand the relationships between local and central power.

Keywords

• Local finances
• Book-keeping
• Administration
• Source criticism