Difussion and Diocesans Territories in Brazil: 1551 – 1930

Abstract

Between the beggining of the Portuguese colonization and 1930, the formation of Catholic diocesans territories in Brazil was a result of a complex process of spatial diffusion. In this process has taken part the country’s dimension, the occupation process, and the needs and possibilities of the Catholical Church. Two periods can be identified, 1551–1854 and 1890–1930. The first one is represented by the submission of the Catholical Church to the Portuguese Crown and its superficial appropriation and control of its 12 territories diocesans spread around 8,5 millions of Km². The second period is associated with the separation between Church and State and the creation of 68 news dioceses spread around the country, although they are placed very close at South-east and North-east. The strategies of Catholical Church change according different logics, although, the appropriation and control is still superficial. Its results was the development of a popular catholicism, wich is dominanting in Brazil.