The urban development of Mossoró

The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the period of Mossoró’s history that spans from 1850 to 1876. This time frame is based on two events that took place in the city: the elevation of Mossoró to the status of town in 1852 and to the status of city in 1870. We will try to analyse the political, economic and social processes that enabled Mossoró to undergo these elevations. The battle between the political and liberal parties seeking control of Mossoró, the arrival of traders from Europe, the first codes of behaviour that served to maintain control of the urban space and the influence of these processes on the daily lives of the population.