O Rio de Janeiro e as primeiras linhas transatlânticas de paquetes a vapor: 1850-1860

The first line of steamship navigation between Europe and Brazil was the British Royal Company, which was subsidized by the British government not only to do the postal service, but also to transport passengers and goods, mainly those of smallest volume and highest freight value. Due to the very great success of this company many other steamship navigation companies started to compete with it. The quickness of its comfortable and elegant steamships, the cheapness of the return freight and, above all, the regularity and punctuality of its vessels converted the British Royal Company into the favourite of Brazilian customers and even of its competitors, who had to face their defeat in the middle of frustration and admiration feelings for the British efficiency. The Rio de Janeiro's connection to England, in twenty eight days with a fixed schedule, revolutionized Brazilian business life: foreign capitalists could now control their investments and better evaluate the advantages for doing new investments; the exchange floatations decreased and the commercial relationships of both sides of the Atlantic increased. This new commercial order created a new dynamics to all sorts of business and new perspectives for the displacement of people and capital, transforming Brazil into a modern country.