Atlantic South America Brazil. History Brazil is the largest country in South America. Its population of 188 million people is more than all of the.

Atlantic South Atlantic South AmericaAmericaBrazilBrazil

HistoryHistory

Brazil is the largest Brazil is the largest country in South country in South America. Its America. Its population of 188 population of 188 million people is million people is more than all of the more than all of the other South other South American countries American countries combined.combined.

Colonial BrazilColonial Brazil

The first people of Brazil The first people of Brazil were Native Americans, were Native Americans, arriving thousands of arriving thousands of years ago and basing years ago and basing their lives on hunting, their lives on hunting, fishing and small farms. fishing and small farms. The first Europeans to The first Europeans to arrive were the arrive were the Portuguese, in 1500.Portuguese, in 1500.

Colonial BrazilColonial Brazil

The Portuguese soon The Portuguese soon moved to Brazil due to moved to Brazil due to warm climates and good warm climates and good soil. These conditions soil. These conditions made it a large sugar made it a large sugar producing region. The producing region. The Portuguese brought Portuguese brought Africans over as slaves Africans over as slaves to work the cane to work the cane plantations. Sugar made plantations. Sugar made Portugal rich.Portugal rich.

Colonial BrazilColonial Brazil

Inland, many Portuguese Inland, many Portuguese raised cattle on ranches. raised cattle on ranches. In the late 1600’s to In the late 1600’s to early 1700’s, gold and early 1700’s, gold and precious gems were precious gems were found in the southeast found in the southeast and a mining boom and a mining boom would bring people from would bring people from around the world. around the world. Finally, in the 1800’s, Finally, in the 1800’s, Coffee would become Coffee would become king.king.

Brazil Since Brazil Since IndependenceIndependence

Brazil gained independence in 1822 Brazil gained independence in 1822 without rebellion or fight. Independence without rebellion or fight. Independence did not change the economy or society did not change the economy or society much – they were the last country in the much – they were the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery. Leaders Americas to abolish slavery. Leaders have been both dictators at times and have been both dictators at times and elected officials at other times. Today, elected officials at other times. Today, the government has elected officials and the government has elected officials and Brazilians can participate in government.Brazilians can participate in government.

People and Culture: People and Culture: PeoplePeople

More than half of More than half of Brazilians see Brazilians see themselves as themselves as European descent. European descent. Portuguese Portuguese immigrants along immigrants along with Spanish, with Spanish, German, Polish and German, Polish and Italians have made Italians have made Brazil home. Brazil home.

PeoplePeople

40 % of the 40 % of the population is of population is of mixed African and mixed African and European heritage. European heritage. Brazil also has the Brazil also has the largest Japanese largest Japanese population outside of population outside of Japan.Japan.

People and LanguagePeople and Language

Due to its cultural Due to its cultural heritage, Portuguese is heritage, Portuguese is the official language. the official language. Since Brazil is so huge Since Brazil is so huge and populous, and populous, Portuguese is spoken by Portuguese is spoken by more than Spanish in all more than Spanish in all of South America. of South America. Native languages as well Native languages as well as others like French as others like French and English are spoken and English are spoken as well.as well.

ReligionReligion

Brazil has the largest Brazil has the largest population of Roman population of Roman Catholics of any country Catholics of any country in the world. Protestants in the world. Protestants have grown in Brazil in have grown in Brazil in the recent times and the recent times and some Brazilians practice some Brazilians practice Macumba, a blend of Macumba, a blend of African, Indian and African, Indian and Christian beliefs and Christian beliefs and practices.practices.

Festivals and FoodFestivals and Food

Carnival is huge in Carnival is huge in Brazil. Celebrated Brazil. Celebrated before Lent, they before Lent, they incorporate traditions incorporate traditions from Africa, Europe from Africa, Europe and Brazil. Food is and Brazil. Food is also influenced by also influenced by heritage. An African heritage. An African seafood dish called seafood dish called vatapa is popular.vatapa is popular.

Brazil TodayBrazil Today

Opportunities and challenges face this big Opportunities and challenges face this big nation. Brazil has the largest economy in nation. Brazil has the largest economy in South America and many wealthy areas – South America and many wealthy areas – however, many Brazilians are quite poor. however, many Brazilians are quite poor. Some issues and characteristics are common Some issues and characteristics are common throughout Brazil, but some pertain to throughout Brazil, but some pertain to particular regions. Brazil can be divided into particular regions. Brazil can be divided into four regions based on people, economies and four regions based on people, economies and landscapes.landscapes.

The SoutheastThe Southeast

Most people live in the Southeast and Sao Most people live in the Southeast and Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and 4Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and 4 thth largest in largest in the world is there. A megacity, there are many the world is there. A megacity, there are many small cities and suburbs in the surrounding small cities and suburbs in the surrounding area.area.

RioRio

Rio de Janeiro is the 2Rio de Janeiro is the 2ndnd largest city and is largest city and is northeast of Sao Paulo. northeast of Sao Paulo. It was the capital from It was the capital from 1822 to 1960 and has a 1822 to 1960 and has a population of 12 million. population of 12 million. A major port, its setting A major port, its setting and exciting culture draw and exciting culture draw thousands of tourists thousands of tourists each year.each year.

SoutheastSoutheast

The Southeast is also the richest region – both The Southeast is also the richest region – both in resources and industry and farmlands. It in resources and industry and farmlands. It does have poverty as well, many cities having does have poverty as well, many cities having favelas – slums – right next to wealthy areas.favelas – slums – right next to wealthy areas.

The NortheastThe Northeast

The northeast is Brazil’s The northeast is Brazil’s poorest region. Many poorest region. Many can’t read, health care is can’t read, health care is poor and jobs non-poor and jobs non-existent. Droughts make existent. Droughts make farming difficult and does farming difficult and does not attract industry. not attract industry. However, the beaches However, the beaches do attract tourists. Old do attract tourists. Old colonial cities also attract colonial cities also attract tourists.tourists.

The InteriorThe Interior

The Interior region is The Interior region is a frontier. Mild a frontier. Mild climate and climate and abundant land may abundant land may make it an make it an agricultural region in agricultural region in the future. Few live the future. Few live there today except there today except for those in Brasilia, for those in Brasilia, the capital.the capital.

BrasiliaBrasilia

In the 1950’s, officials In the 1950’s, officials hoped building the hoped building the capital inland would draw capital inland would draw people to the area. It people to the area. It has big buildings and has big buildings and highways and 2 million highways and 2 million population although it population although it was designed for was designed for 500,000.500,000.

The AmazonThe Amazon

The Amazon region The Amazon region covers most of northern covers most of northern Brazil. Manaus is the Brazil. Manaus is the major port and industrial major port and industrial city and over a million city and over a million people live there and people live there and they rely on the great they rely on the great river for transportation river for transportation and communication.and communication.

The AmazonThe Amazon

Isolated Indian villages Isolated Indian villages are scattered throughout are scattered throughout the rainforest – some the rainforest – some had very little contact had very little contact with the outside world with the outside world until recently. Now, until recently. Now, mining, logging and mining, logging and roads bring people and roads bring people and development to the development to the region. region.

The AmazonThe Amazon

The new development The new development brings much needed brings much needed income to the area, but it income to the area, but it destroys large areas of destroys large areas of the rainforest. This also the rainforest. This also creates tensions creates tensions between Indians, new between Indians, new settlers, miners and the settlers, miners and the government.government.