Ruralization and trade in the eighteenth century Goa: Contextualizing Junta da Real Fazenda

Abstract

This paper contextualizes the Portuguese source Junta da Real Fazenda by placing it in the proper historiographical context. The source is studied in three phases: pre Pombaline, Pombaline and post Pombaline eras. The Goan economy depended on the rural economy particularly in the early years of the eighteenth century. The village communities suffered from lack of revenue and enhanced debt. In the Pombaline era, the Jesuit domination of the agrarian sector ended. Attempts were made to revive trade. There was a greater role for the Hindu traders. However, the trade of this era could not be compared with the trade that prevailed in the 16th century. In the post Pombaline era, we find further decline in the agrarian sector. Goans began to migrate to Bombay. Remittance revenue replaced agrarian and trade revenue during this period.