How the Land is Used

Historical Background

Brazil from its inception has been a country all about exports, slavery and patriarchy. It is the export aspect of the culture that shaped Brazil into the country and society it is today. The name “Brazil” alone is evocative of commerce, the pursuit of wealth and prosperity. The name was derived from the Brazilwood Trees, the Europeans sought during the 18^th century to convert into red dyes. Yet, at the heart of the story is the exploitation of cheap labor, first as slave and then as low-wage earners. Brazil’s history, quite similar to that of many other countries, is a story of conquest, enslavement of the native peoples, and millions of “imported” African slaves.

The Five Economic Periods:

1500-1550:

This first period involved the extensive logging of Brazilwood, located along the Northeast coast. Brazilwood was the main source of red dye for the developing textile trade in sixteenth-century northern Europe, specifically Normandy and Flanders. The trees and the ready labor of the natives attracted the Portuguese and French ships. The natives had anticipated a trade type of agreement as they were eager to acquire metal products, in return for cutting a hauling the loads to the coast. The French in particular experienced an extraordinary amount of success at this time, because they sent young men to reside among the natives and learn their native language. The Portuguese instead decided to use the factory system they were employing in Africa, South Asia, and the rest of the Asian coast. The system consisted of fortified trading posts and minimal contact with the native/local population. The French’s success is attributed to their deep roots among the natives. Yet, this same success is also attributed to Portugal’s decision to create settlements and protect what they consider their “claim”.

1530-1650:

During this period there were a lot of struggles among the Europeans for control over the beachheads, anchorages and bays of the country. The Portuguese gained significant control over the coast line; which coincided with the onset of the sugar era. Sugar cultivation was prominent in separated tidewater enclaves from Sao Vicente to Pernambuco.  The enslavement of the native was not enough at the time, so after 1560 the Portuguese and other European settlers imported African slaves, which provided the labor for the mills and fields. Due to the sugar cane cultivation, oxen and cattle were imported from other countries to help with the harvesting. It also constituted a significant part of the economic growth of this era. Sugar and the importation of the animals helped develop Brazil’s economic system enough to compete with other European powers, but imposed a patriarchal social system to the country.

1690s- 1750s:

During this period mining of gold and diamonds was a prominent part of the economy. As more gold and diamond mines were discovered, the Portuguese began to move further inland far into Rio das Velhas, throughout central Minas Gerais, and out into Mato Grosso for gold mining. For diamond mining Rio Jequitinhonha in Minas Gerais, became the jewel in Portugal’s crown. The fact that people were moving further inland meant that they were moving farther from the control of the Portuguese crown. This is a distinctive feature of Brazils terrain, that exists until today, because of the size the people can live inside the boundaries of the country but outside the limits of the society and control of the state. The mines in the interior of the country required mules and an endless supply of livestock, without good roads, there became an increasing network of mule trails (aka. Web trails).

1820-1920:

Gold production began to decline in the late 18^th century. But, coffee cultivation flourished. It began in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro and into Sao Paulo and finally into Parana. Coffee cultivation empowered the rise of the state of Sao Paulo and its port of Santos. Although coffee production was an important part of the economy it eventually took the secondary position to industrialization after the late 1930’s. The Amazon also was considered a significant contributor of the economy at during this period. From 1880 to 1919, it was the world’s principal source of rubber. This “Rubber Boom” drew attention to the region and impelled Brazil to secure its borders.

1930s- Present

This period brought about the import-substitution industrialization and extended into the 1990’s. Industry’s initial and heaviest concentration was in the triangle of São Paulo-Rio de Janeiro-Belo Horizonte. The period was best represented by the steel mills of Volta Redonda and São Paulo’s integrated industrial zone. Industrialization and its parallel urbanization attracted rural migrants from throughout the country, but especially from the drought-plagued Northeast. In the space of a generation after 1940, Brazil leaped from the age of the bull-cart to that of the internal combustion engine, changing the national map in the process.

Source:

Brazil : a country study 5th edititon

By: Rex A. Hudson

Background Information on Brazil

The Federative Republic of Brazil is the official name of the country, although it is known around the world by its short name, Brazil. The Capital city is Brasilia.

Geography

Brazil is located on the continent of South America. It is the largest country on the continent in terms of land mass.  The standard figure is 8,511,996 square kilometers (approximately 5,289,109 square miles); this figure includes the islands of  Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de São Pedro e São Paulo. A new revised figure from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and statistics, has estimated the country’s total area to be 8,547,403.5 square kilometers. Brazil occupies approximately 47% of the continental area of South America.  It is situated between 05°16’20″ north latitude and 33°44’32″ south latitude, and between 34°47’30″ east longitude and 73°59’32″ west longitude.The country’s boundaries extend 23,086 kilometers, 7,367 of which borders the Atlantic Ocean. Brazil shares a border with every country on the South American continent except for Chile and Ecuador.

Facts about the People (Brazilian Society)

Brazil has a population of over 198 million people. Of this population 27% are from the ages of 0-14; 68% are from the ages of 15-64; 6.4% is 65 years and older.

As of 2008 Brazil has an urban population of 86%. This means that approximately this percentage of people live and/or works in urban areas of the country.

According to the 2000 census the population of Brazil consists of the following ethnic groups: White: account for 53.7%; Mulatto (mixed white and black): account for 38.5%; Black account for 6.2%; and Other (which includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian): accounts for 0.9%; Unspecified comes in at 0.7% of the population.

The Roman Catholic religion is the primary religion of the country with over 73% of the population declaring this as their official religion. Protestant comes in second with a little over 15% of the population being of the Protestant faith. No religious affiliations come in at 7% of the population. Spiritualist, Bantu/Voodoo, Other and Unspecified come in at a total of a little over 3% of the population.

Portuguese is the official and most wide spread language of Brazil. Less common languages that could be found include: Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, English and a large number of minor Amerindian dialects.

Literacy is an important part of Brazilian culture with more than 88% of the population over the age of 15 able to read, write and speak Portuguese. Four percept of the country’s GDP is allocated to cover primary education costs.

Source: CIA World Fact Book- Brazil