3 - Governing Lands and Souls in the Portuguese Empire in Asia: the role of Jesuits in Bassein (1550s-1660s)

This paper analyzes the Jesuit land administration in Bassein between the 1550s and 1660s. Bassein provided a significant source of land revenue, unlike other regions of the Estado da Índia that relied heavily on trade. The Bassein lands were essential in funding Jesuit missions in various parts of Asia and East Africa. Portuguese officials were social agents responsible for categorizing the local lands, defining boundaries, setting taxes, and providing information and tools to enhance their governing capacity. The Jesuits kept records of the Society of Jesus assets in India, encompassing endowments, land transactions (purchases and sales), and related royal licenses and confirmations. They also produced property lists, reports, and opinions to address issues like taxes, leases, obligations of agricultural workers, and local customs regarding land relations. These records were utilized to resolve land disputes among colonial officials, Jesuits, heirs, and the community. The analysis of land administration by the Jesuits in Bassein helps to elucidate how their settlement and land cultivation practices supported proselytism and funded the missions in Asia. It also aims to identify and explain the methods used by the Jesuits to govern the land and the local populations.