Urbano em construção: origem e crescimento de pequenas cidades do semiárido brasileiro, o caso de Piancó - PB.

Abstract

The present work aims to analyze, in a panoramic way, the origin and growth dynamics of small urban centers of the Brazilian Semiárido, between XVIII and XXI centuries, using the city of Piancó-PB as a study case. In order to do that, the research makes use of morphological and architectural readings, based on maps, made out of the trajectory of the city’s historical buildings and satellite images. As a result, throughout the research, historical, socioeconomic and political contexts, that may have influenced the development of those centers, specially Piancó, are highlighted. Furthermore, the elements that shaped the urban form of this Paraíba’s city, since its initial occupation, until the XXI century, encouraging or suppressing the expansion of its urban portion, are emphasized on this study, besides the identification of its likely future directions.