Control and territorial domain in the south of the state of Mato Grosso: an analysis of the performance of "Matte Larangeira Company" in the period between 1883 and 1937

Abstract

The Triple Alliance Agreement (Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) made during the Paraguay War (1864-1870), which defined the territorial boundary between Brazil and Paraguay, was decisive so that, during the period between 1883 and 1937, the south of the present state of Mato Grosso do Sul formed a productive structure characterized by large farmlands, exploring the traditional economic activities: Paraguay tea (maté/ Yerba Mate) and cattle. This article aims to analyze the role of Matte Larangeira Company, enterprise which in this period monopolized the production and trade of the Paraguay tea in the area, in the process of structuring the nearby territory characterized by large farms of Paraguay tea and cattle, that together with members of the state government, had strong power and land control in the area for decades. In order to accomplish such goal and clarify the government’s ideals to integrate the area of domain of the Paraguay tea to the external market, this article was organized based on the regionalhistory and on the analysis of texts about the topic.