Abstract
Some fundamental explanatory elements of credit in Brazil in the colonial period started to be generated more than one century ago. The most recurrent explanation is linked to the idea of the scarce money supply until 1808, when a set of measures were put in practice to fulfill such cash demand in the country. The most prominent of these measures was the creation of Banco do Brasil, on October 12th, 1808. The aim of the present article is to discuss the recent historiography of credit in Brazil between the 17th and the 18th centuries, with emphasis on its association with money supply. Moreover, it refutes the premises of money shortage and of search for credit resulting from it. A detailed examination of sources extrapolated the scope of the current article, since it is a historiographical review; however, it emphasized the need of broadening studies based on so far unexplored documents, as well as of deepening the analyses about legal instruments to protect credit operations.
Keywords:
Colonial Brazil; credit; historiography