Humans and Aquatic Animals in Early Modern America and Africa

Cristina Brito is an Associate Professor at the History Department at NOVA FCSH, Lisbon, and researcher at CHAM - Center for the Humanities. She is one of the PIs of the ERC Synergy Grant 4-OCEANS: Human History of Marine Life, and of two EEA Grants Bilateral Funds Initiatives.

“Overall, Humans and Aquatic Animals is an important addition to both Blue Humanities and multispecies studies. Aquatic animals have received sparse attention in the literature of both, providing experts in both new avenues to explore. It is a valuable contribution to the pushback against the nature–culture divide.” - Matthew Plishka, Environment and History, Vol. 31, January 2025 "a highly recommended read for specialists in environmental history and animal history in the Early Modern period, especially in the American, African, Spanish, and Portuguese contexts. Moreover, it is exemplary in many aspects: the guiding thread—the manatee—is never lost; the bibliography is extensive and representative, despite some possible absences; the researcher’s erudition and mastery of natural history are evident; her ecological reflections are sound and timely; and the topic had not been addressed in a work of this scale, despite its relevance."[transl. form Spanish] - Miguel Rodríguez García, Ecozon@: European Journal of Literature, Culture and Environment , vol. 16, no. 1, 2025

• Acknowledgements Introduction: Magnificent and mighty monsters of nature 1. The case of Matto, the manatee A Manatee in a Lake 2. Cosmogonies, aquatic deities, and water myths of origin (My) Mermaid of the Island 3. Aquatic monsters: From imaginary animals to sharks, caimans and sea lions 4. Beliefs about and practices in nature: From living creatures to resources and symbols Water Wor(l)ds 5. (Early) modern ‘naturecultures’: A co-constructed narrative of the world The Roundness of Earth and Time Index