A caminho das Índias: a transformação do imaginário no olhar do viajante europeu na primeira modernidade

Abstract

This master's research investigates the influence of idealized images of the Indies on the observations of European travelers during the early modern period, with a specific focus on the Iberian voyages of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The study analyzes two primary sources: a copy of Christopher Columbus's first voyage diary, transcribed in 1552 by the Dominican friar Bartolomé de Las Casas, and the printed book "Oh Preste João das Índias" (1540), authored by the secular priest Francisco Álvares, which recounts the Portuguese embassy to Ethiopia between 1515 and 1526. Both narratives document the initial encounters with populations perceived by Europeans at the time as inhabitants of the Indies. This research aims to understand how pre-conceived images shaped the construction of the "other" and the processes of othering employed by European travelers. To achieve this, a content analysis methodology was adopted, dissecting key themes in both texts to reveal significant elements in the travelers' perceptions. The analysis explores how these idealized images of the Indies influenced the European travelers' perspectives, particularly during their interactions with foreign cultures.