Science and Imperial Control in the Portuguese Mato

Abstract The Captaincy of Mato Grosso in the eighteenth century is seen as a boundary for excellence. However, the territorial domain thought by agents of the Portuguese Empire was enough not only in treaties and building fortifications. Under the aegis of the Enlightenment, a whole network of knowledge was implemented based on the idea that science should serve the Empire. Effective control of the territory was more complex than the simple military control of the same, although this was paramount. Thus, we analyze the instances of this control in order to discuss what extent the application of the notion that knowledge is power was essential to the area of ​​the western border of Portuguese America, as well as the vicissitudes of this process in Mato Grosso, namely the issue of confidentiality of information.