Paper short abstract:

The rationalization of statistical data was a key element in the Crown’s control of overseas territories. This process, however, faced preconceived notions of local agents. This paper aims to identify error patterns in local statistical production, relating with agent’s mobility and qualifications.

Paper long abstract:

According to Political Arithmetic's thought the Portuguese Crown established the normative framework that would allow a more reliable knowledge over its overseas territories and a more efficient colonial administration. Thus, the statistical data collection about population, military and economic status in the colonial empire was conceived under a methodology devised by central power, using uniformed models, which would guaranty comparability. However, this process was dependent on local agents that interpreted and applied the norms in diverse ways. This diversity reflects the solutions found by these agents when problems arose while collecting, compiling and processing the data into statistical maps. One can verify that several types of errors were made in the production of these maps: calculus errors; different mathematical formulation; and transcription mistakes.

This paper results from an empirical study that addresses the divergences between what is required by the Crown and what is actually produced by local agents, in order to identify patterns. Consequently, a correlation can be drawn between the identified patterns and local authorities' mobility and qualifications.

We will base this analysis in a vast documental corpus, present in Historical Overseas Archive (Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino), which sums up over 200 maps with significant consistent data, concerning Angola's territory between 1797 and 1830.

With this recent study, we aim to actively contribute for the discussion around new methods and analytical framework on demography.