At the end of the 18th century, several scientific expeditions were organized in Portugal, bound for its American, African, and Asian colonies. Funded by the Portuguese Crown, these voyages aimed to conduct research on nature and culture, with the ultimate goal of compiling a "Natural History of the Colonies."

This lecture will analyze these "philosophical voyages," highlighting their unique role in shaping the experiences of travelers throughout the Portuguese Colonial Empire during the second half of the 18th century—experiences rooted in the observation of nature and the lived realities of both the travelers and the colonial populations. The lecture will map the sociotechnical networks of relationships between the travelers and local inhabitants, shedding light on the contributions of individuals often rendered invisible in the history of science—such as women, Indigenous peoples, and enslaved individuals—who participated in
scientific activities.

Key analytical parameters will be examined, including the political context, institutions, practices, representations, and the geographical and geological environment. Furthermore, the lecture will explore the continuities and innovations present in the expeditions commissioned by the Ministry of the Navy and Overseas Dominions, which involved four distinct groups of travelers, categorized based on their patterns of mobility and settlement within the colonies.