Area of Science:

• History of Science
• Geopolitics
• Colonial Studies

Context:

• Examines the Brazilian-French Guyana border debates (1880s-1900s).
• Focuses on knowledge production, spatial claims, and colonial interests.
• Utilizes the Perthes collection for translocal, actor-based analysis.

Purpose:

• Analyzes how scientific knowledge influenced territorial claims.
• Investigates the interplay between naturalist perspectives and geopolitical outcomes.
• Highlights Emil Göldi's role in securing Brazilian territory.

Summary:

• Emil Göldi's "in situ" scientific work countered French colonial cartography.
• Göldi's "Brazilianized" perspective, published in Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen, shaped perceptions.
• This strategic positioning secured a vast territory for Brazil in Eastern Guiana.

Impact:

• Demonstrates the power of localized scientific knowledge in geopolitical disputes.
• Offers insights into the construction of "false maps" and their real-world consequences.
• Contributes to understanding the historical relationship between science, space, and colonial power.