Lunda Knowledges in the Rubber Trade (1890): Decolonizing Industrial Revolution History Teaching

Abstract

This article addresses the critical analysis and didactic application of the source “instrucções do negociante Custódio Machado acerca do estabelecimento da sua estação commercial na margem direita do Cuango” (1890). The main objective of this research is to demonstrate the potential of this source to deconstruct the theme of the Industrial Revolution in Basic Education. To achieve this goal, the study employed a source analysis methodology (description, contextualization, and critical reading), followed by the design of a teaching sequence for practical intervention. The primary outcome was the design of an effective teaching sequence that reframes the Industrial Revolution as a global process. It demonstrates European industrialization`s structural reliance on the resources and knowledge of the Lunda people ( Central Africa), thereby encouraging critical reflection on Eurocentric narratives. In conclusion, the analyzed source proves to be a potential practical resource for history education, actively contributing to compliance with Law 10.639/03.