Brazil

History

Portuguese explorers first made contact in the 1500s

Brazil wood was the initial export, and lead to the rise of the sugarcane industry

Gold and diamond deposits were mined by the African and Amerindian Slaves in the 1700s

1808-1815 Brazil was the seat of the Portuguese court and Empire

History

1835 Brazil had the largest slave rebellion in the Americas, the Malê Revolt

Brazil was last to abolish slavery in 1888

Getulio Vargas held dictatorial control after a coup in 1930 until 1945

Besides a military coup from 1964 to 1989, Brazil has held Democratic

Geography

Brazil is the 5th largest country after Russia, Canada, America, and China

Brazil is split up Hydro-graphically

The largest river in Brazil is the Amazon, it stretches some 4000 miles

Geography

Shares a border with every South American country but Ecuador and Chile

1/3 of the territory is Pre-Cambrian – almost 240 million years old

66% is covered by forests, more than any other Latin American country

Brazilians

43% of the population is Pardo, a mix of white, black and native peoples, the self-recognized racial group of Brazilians

50% are white, descendants of Portuguese and Italians

Brazilians

Brazil received 35% of the Africans brought to the Americas in the slave trade

There are currently 184 Million people living in Brazil, making it the 5th most populace in the world

Brazil as well holds the 10th

largest GDP at $1.99 Trillion

Culture

Brazil has people from Japan, Portugal, Germany and Italy as well as the 3 million Slaves and Native people, who all bring their own culture

Although extremely diverse, 70% of the population identifies as Roman Catholic

Culture

Football is the most popular sport in Brazil by a wide margin. Over 10,000 Brazilians play professionally worldwide

Brazilian music is very distinct, such examples being Sergio Mendes and Chico Buarque

References

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2001rank.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_Revolt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Male_Revolt

Architecture

As Brazil's economy explodes, new art rises as the buildings

The developing regions of Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo have become richer, and are currently home to some of the most elaborate Architects in the world

Film

Brazilian film is largely influenced by early post-modern german cinema

Some of the best Brazilian films are City of God, by Fernando Meirelles, and Bicho de Sete Cabeças, by Laís Bodanzky

Music

Brazilian music is very distinct, such examples being Sergio Mendes and Chico Buarque,

Samba, Brazil Reggae, Boroque and Rap are the most popular forms of music

Dance Carnaval, four days before Ash Wednesday, is

celebrated across the world but most distinctly in Brazil

Bahia and Rio each have distinctive parties, but all have the Dance Schools, thousands of people large following a float, singing and dancing in elaborate costumes

As well, there are Blocos, who are smaller groups, and tend to satirize current politics