The Amazon of 10 million inhabitants: subsistence agriculture and the management of amazonian dark earth

Abstract

This study discusses aspects of the history of South America's indigenous peoples—with an emphasis on Amazonian and Andean populations—by integrating contributions from archaeology, population genetics, and cultural studies. It begins by reflecting on academic writing and the need for research that is sensitive to human experiences, drawing on the work of Rosa Maria Bueno Fischer. Next, it examines research by Eduardo Góes Neves and Tábita Hünemeier, which challenges traditional narratives regarding the peopling of the Americas and highlights the complexity of indigenous societies prior to European colonization. The text also addresses the impact of the Spanish and Portuguese conquests on these populations, underscoring processes of genocide, cultural erasure, and the imposition of Eurocentric values. Finally, it analyzes expressions of sexual and gender diversity among indigenous peoples—particularly in the Andean context—demonstrating how colonization contributed to the repression of ways of existence that were previously integrated into social and religious structures. The study concludes that valuing indigenous knowledge and recognizing the plurality of human experiences are vital steps toward addressing the historical erasures that persist in contemporary society.