GEOGRAPHY OF FEELING: THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRAZILIAN NORTHEAST, BRIEF CONSIDERATIONS

Abstract

The creation of what is conventionally called Northeast took place in two ways: geographical and sentimental. The Northeast, before existing as a Brazilian geographic region, already existed an emotional bond to the place. It was the delicate and sweet Northeast of the coast with fields of sugar cane and the arid and difficult Northeast of the cattle ranching hinterland – both places of memory and affection for their people. The two northeastern features existed since the 16^th century, but would only receive their official name in 1940 when the Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) would divide and classify Brazil by regions. Until then, the foundations of its identity were based on the memory of its population. Thus, we propose in this article to approach the construction of the Northeast as a place of memory and a geography of sentiment that shaped the future of its people and its territory.