Social ascent, consolidation and prestige. The case of Portugueses and their sociofamiliar nets in tardocolonial Buenos Aires

Abstract

This paper describes the behaviour and investment strategies of the most prominent Portuguese individuals in late colonial Buenos Aires. In this analysis, we make particular emphasis in the growth of the city since mid 18th century as a result of the Atlantic commerce expansion. It was during this period that Buenos Aires rapidly lost its small town character to definitively acquire the personality of a city.