Brazilian History: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Before the 16th century, indigenous people populated South America. The majority of those people were Native Americans with no sense of government, language or worldly travel. They were nomads in every sense of the word. Over their heads, world exploration was taking place and would eventually change their lives for the worse. One of the earliest forms of imperialism would knock the people of South America, and specifically Brazil in the face.

In 1494, the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed and agreed between Spain and Portugal as to what land rights the two navigating nations had. As it was agreed upon, an imaginary line was drawn cutting through the Americas. All that was to the west would become property of Spain and all to the east would be Portugal’s (Davenport). Though that line didn’t give Portugal too much from the Americas, they did receive the easternmost point which just so happened to turn into Brazil.

As with most explorers of the time, Brazil was discovered unintentionally in 1500 by Portuguese-led Pedro Alvares Cabral. Over five years after they received the right to the perceived lands, Portugal wasn’t attempting to find anything in the location. Cabral was exploring for a new trade route to the Indian Ocean when he mistakenly hit land and thus, Brazil was discovered.

When Brazil was founded, it was not used for much else but trade. Products such as dyewood and textiles were exported by Portugal thanks to the work of the Native Americans who had found themselves in a situation they had little control over. In fact, decades later, settlers would be shipped in by the boatloads. It wasn’t merely for Portugal to start a city or civilization in Brazil but for defense purposes (Lang 25). The first city founded by these settlers was Sao Vicente and the sugarcane product became the next big trading item for Portugal and Brazil. Still, Portugal had to deal with raids from the French and attempts at revolts and rebellion from the practically enslaved Native American workers. Still wanting to maintain order and keep production high, Portugal sent more boats full of settlers, soldiers and others to Brazil. Stemming from this, in 1549, Salvador was founded.

It wasn’t long after that these Portuguese workers and city officials became fully entrenched in the act of slavery and slave trading. The late 16th century saw slaves from Africa be traded to Brazil in an effort for the Portuguese to be able to flush out the Native Americans who were no longer needed. The chance of the African slaves revolting or their backlash was perceived as far less effective than that of the Native Americans. Fear was a major tool of the slave traders to break down people and remove their will and any hope they may have left (Schwartz 686). Some two centuries later, a critic of Brazil’s activity in the African slave trade said, “Each new importation of slaves adds fuel that accumulates within the volcano” (Schultz 277).

The primary source for this paper was from famed map creator John Ogilby. The map pictured numerous ships in route to Brazil and what was the newest city at the time, Salvador in 1549. Besides a handful of structures on the land, it appears to be very undeveloped which is why many settlers were sent. The map was created in the 1600s and shows great detail as to what ship travel was like at the time. It was found at the University of South Carolina’s library website.

Stuart B. Schwartz wrote the first scholarly article in 2000 for the Hispanic American Historical Review. The title, “Brazil: Ironies of the Colonial Past” details some problems people have had over the past five to ten years in finding specific and truthful accounts of Brazil’s past. Schwartz accounts it towards the lack of knowledge towards the Portuguese language, which would force people to learn it before doing any serious work. Interestingly, he notes the lack of interest in Brazil’s colonial past inside the United States, “The relative neglect of colonial Brazil in the United States is particularly unfortunateâÂ?¦because Brazil seems to be on the verge of an explosion of interest and writing on the colonial era.” He also writes about the slave trade and the mindset of the people involved.

Kirsten Schultz wrote the second article in 2005 for the Duke University Press’ Common Knowledge journal. Of her piece, the writing under “Slavery and Metropolitanization” was most helpful for this assignment. Schultz goes in depth into the negatives that using slaves had on the long-term economy for Brazil. She wrote, “âÂ?¦these critics explained the incompatibility of slavery with economic vitality and developmentâÂ?¦of paramount importance after the opening of Brazil’s ports to foreign trade.”

Because of the use of slavery, much like the United States following their Civil War, it took some time to straighten the economics out so that they did not have to rely on such trade. They were not heavily self dependant which Schultz argues hurt Brazil during its development.

“Portuguese Brazil: The Kings Plantation” covers the expansion of Portugal throughout the western hemisphere from the 1500s to the late 1700s. The book was written in 1979 but offers a good and well-understood experience of what it was to be Portugal at the time when they were expanding. The discovery of Brazil and the events thereafter are highlighted with more emphasis placed on international relations with the likes of the French and Dutch.

Brazil was never the target of someone to discover, it was an explorer’s mistake. However, no country or perceived empire would turn down free land. Portugal, at first, had no real direct plans of what to do with or what to use their newfound land for. When they discovered the plethora of resources, they immediately saw a chance to profit and an opportunity to increase their power, both domestically and abroad. Even at the expense of Native Americans, who didn’t ask to be removed from their homes or their normal lives. When it came time to make extra, they engaged in the infamous African slave trading business. Very similar to early United States colonies, slave labor was a major influence on the land and whether or not it could grow and be successful.

From the time Brazil was discovered, it wasn’t until another three hundred plus years that the nation received its independence. Even during this time, slavery held a large impact on the development of the people of Brazil as its lone self. Silva Lisboa, a Brazilian official once said, “[Slavery] made difficult marriages between people of European Extraction and prevented the formation of a homogeneous and compact nation” (Schultz 280).

As Brazil grew from its infancy, the cause and effect from the use of slavery changed. Portuguese rule called for it and wasn’t thinking much for the long-term relationship of the country. The country was used as a tool for Portugal in an attempt to grow in stature amongst the world community. At that time in the world, exploration was so important to nations who had the capabilities to do so and a land as big and fluid with resources, was an extensive item to have. Trophy-like in a way to show what Portugal could do as far as traveling and extending their control.