Agência indígena nas pesquisas sobre a borracha natural durante o século XVIII

Abstract

Natural rubber is a polymer that results from the coagulation of latex produced by a variety of plant species, among which Hevea Brasiliensis, popularly known as the rubber tree, stands out. Different indigenous peoples of the Amazon, a region where these trees are most common, had technical mastery of the extraction and processing of the material, which allowed them to use it in the production of a wide variety of objects: clothing, containers, toys, balls, among others. Since the beginning of European expansionism, its properties have captured the attention of travelers passing through the region, and the fascination with the material, motivated by the wide variety of applications it could provide, contributed to begin its life as an object of science in the mid-18th century. Based on a material culture approach to the history of science, this dissertation aims to highlight the indigenous agency in rubber research during this century, exploring the impact of their knowledge regarding the production of rubber objects on the work of French naturalists, usually considered pioneers in this field. We argue that indigenous agency in the history of rubber can be understood in different ways, both through the direct action of indigenous people and through the influence of their instruments and techniques, from the initial moment of popularization of rubber to later developments in France.