Abstract
The aim of this article is to analyze how the articulation of the four stages theory served as a backdrop in Robert Southey’ History of Brazil (1810-1819) for the examination of the populations living in Brazil, Rio de la Plata and Paraguay. In addition, I try to show the importance of William Robertson’ History of America (1777) for the insertion of American history within the macronarrative of world history through the constituency of indigenous peoples as morally savage and living in the stage of hunters and gatherers. In that horizon of division of societies in barbaric, savage or civilized, Robertson’ History of America was decisive for the construction of the Native American people as living in a savage state. Southey continued to explore the ways and costumes of the savages, performing a significant broadening of topics and scrutinizing the peculiarities of various tribes without, however, fail to point their subsistencse mode, which were developed according to pre-defined stages.
Keywords
Robert Southey; William Robertson; four stages theory