Dinheiro, crédito e fortunas na Estância/SE oitocentista (1820-1888)

Abstract

By studying the material life of traders established in Estância, in the period 1820-1888, we understand the character and dynamics of this market town, as shown by the composition of wealth in wills. This wealth is composed of claims on other merchants from several places in Sergipe and other provinces, such as the Bahia. According to the possession of property, we find that some merchants had an extensive network of credit, caused by purchases from their stores or through loans. Merchants considered the act of lending, even small amounts, an opportunity to expand their influence, to the extend that the lending promote prestige and power.We note also that a small group controls some keys sectors of the local economy, such as credit and supply.