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Brazil

BRAZIL is the largest and most populous country in South America and one of the world’s biggest democracies. The preservation of the Amazon rainforest and the growing gap between rich and poor are two major concerns facing this ethnically diverse country.

Historical Background

There were two to four million Indians living in Brazil in over 1,000 tribes, when the Portuguese discovered Brazil in 1500.  In 1531, the first Portuguese settlers arrived and began to colonise the area. The native Indians were either killed or enslaved to work on the new Portuguese sugar plantations. Many died of illnesses brought from Europe, against which they had no natural immunity. From 1550, huge numbers of people from Africa were shipped in as slaves, as the Portuguese considered them better workers and less susceptible to European diseases. 

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Bandeirantes-groupsof adventurers, most of whom had Portuguese fathers and Indian mothers, explored the interior and expanded Brazil’s teritory to its current extent. They also discovered gold and, during the early 18th century, Brazil became the world’s greatest gold producer.  However, the gold rush didn’t last and, by 1750, the mining regions were in decline and many gold-hunters relocated to Rio de Janeiro, which grew rapidly, replacing Salvador as Brazil’s capital in 1763.  

In 1807, the Portuguese Royal Family and Court transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, due to Napoleon's advance across Europe.  After Napoleon's defeat by the British at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, and the death of his mother the following year, the Prince Regent, Dom João, became King John VIand declared Rio the capital of the United Kingdom of Portugal and Brazil.  Brazil was the only New World colony to ever have a European monarch ruling on its soil.  Dom João returned to Portugal in 1821, leaving his son Dom Pedro in charge of the colony.  However, the following year (1822) Dom Pedro declared himself Emperor of an independent Brazil and the Portuguese quickly gave in to the idea of an autonomous Brazil. 

During the mid-19th century, Brazil enjoyed one of the most prosperous periods in its history.  In 1865, with the help of Argentina, Brazil defeated an invasion by Paraguay.  Although slave trafficking was banned in Brazil in 1850, it was not until 1888 that slavery itself was banned.  The vast majority were illiterate and unskilled and many flowed into Brazil's unban centres, adding to the slums. 

In 1889, Imperial rule was replaced by a military coup, backed by the rich coffee farmers; an industry which had grown rapidly since the decline of the sugar industry in the 1820's.  From then until 1930, a Constitutional Democracy was in place, but voting was restricted to a wealth minority.  Following the Wall Street Crash in 1929, the price of coffee collapsed and many of Brazil's wealthy coffee farmers were left ruined.

The resultant economic and political turmoil led to a revolution and the appointment of Getúlio Vargas as President.  He led Brazil as military dictator from 1930 to 1954, when political parties were banned, opponents imprisoned and the press censored. Vargas began World War II on Hitler’s side, but following an offer of US investment in 1942, Brazil switched sides. 

A military coup in 1964 led to a further period of military rule.  In the late 1960's and early 1970's the economy boomed but, when the boom ended in the late 1970's, opposition to the milatry dictatorship developed amongst both the educated middle class and the working class.  Strikes led to a slow return to civilian rule from 1979. 

Brazil became truly democratic in 1985, when the Presidential Election was won by the opposing military candidate.  Left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was elected in 2002 (a former shoe-shine boy and factory worker), has managed to reduce Brazil's huge international debts and introduce welfare programmes to help the poorest families.

More on: History of Brazil

Geography

Brazil is located in Eastern South America, and has an area of 3.3 million sq miles, making it slightly smaller than the USA. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and every South America country except Chile and Ecuador.

In the north is the low-lying Amazon rainforest; the south is open terrain, hills and low mountains; and along the Atlantic coast there are several mountain ranges. The Amazon River is the second longest in the world.

Brazil’s important natural resources include iron ore and oil, and 6.9% of the land is arable. 

The climate is mostly tropical, but more temperate in the south. The northeast is prone to droughts, and the south to flooding. A summer extreme of 40 degrees C is possible in the equatorial region, while the capital city Brasilia can experience a low of 15 degrees C.

There is a dry season in the usually humid Amazon region, which lasts three to five months.

More on: Geography of Brazil

Economy

Brazil is the largest national economy in South America and the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo is the largest financial centre on the continent. Brazil's economy was mismanaged and underdeveloped in the 20th century. However, in recent years, Brazil's economy has grown; exports have boomed; and it has reduced its huge debt. Its inflation and unemployment rates have also been significantly reduced. Economists have noted that it is a country with huge economic potential.

Brazil has a good mix of agriculture, mining, industry and service sectors. Agricultural products include coffee, soyabeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus fruits and beef.

Its main industries are textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, irn ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts and other machinery and equipment.

Brazil is one of the world leaders in biofuels, producing ethanol from sugarcane. At a time when the world is looking for alternative and cleaner fuels, Brazil is expanding its production dramatically and looks set to benefit from the commodity that is set to boom worldwide.

However, it is estimated that 85% of Brazil's wealth is owned by only 5% of the population, with around 1/3 of Brazilians living below the poverty line.

More on: Economy of Brazil

Society & Culture

Brazil’s society and culture is very diverse, with a mix of native Indian, Portuguese and African influences.  In most other Latin American countries, there is a distinct Indian population. However, in Brazil, intermarriage between cultures was common and most people now have a combination of European, African and indigenous ancestry.  Despite this, those with darker-brown skin are more likely to be found in the poorest communities.  

There is a huge economic and social gap between and rich and poor in Brazil, with the middle and upper classes often having only brief interaction with the lower classes - usually as cleaners, drivers, etc.

Around a third of the inhabitants of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeirolive in favelas (slums), which are mostly run by drug lords. Although conditions are basic and cramped, most have access to electricity and running water; and many have low-paid employment in the city.

There are between 350,000 and 600,000 Indians living in just over 200 tribes on indigenous lands; state-owned land, to which they have been granted exclusive and permanent use. Most live traditional lifesyles: hunting and gathering; and growing plants for food and medicine. It is thought that there may be still over 50 uncontacted tribes, mostly small groups living deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Brazil is famous for its colourful carnivals, Samba music and dance and its love of football.

More on: Demograhics of Brazil

Christianity in Brazil

Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese. From 1500 to 1900, Protestant missionary efforts made little impact, because the state supported the Roman Catholic Church. Calvinism appeared in the mid-1600's, when the Dutch invaded the northeast of the country.

During the monarchy period of 1822-89, there was freedom of religion, which allowed Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist and Presbyterian missionaries to plant churches in the major cities. In the 20th century, Pentecostal denominations made inroads in urban and rural areas, amongst the working and growing middle classes.

Today, Brazil has the largest Roman Catholic population in the world, however it is declining in popularity with increasing numbers going to church only for baptisms, marriages and funerals. In recent decades, Evangelical Christianity has increased significantly, especially in the poorer communities.

PCI partners with the Presbyterian Church in Brazil (IPB) and the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPIB). The IPB was established by American Presbyterians in the 1860s, and it saw quick growth for a few decades. In 1902, the church divided and the IPIB was formed. Today, the two churches enjoy good relations and both are involved in the training of ministers and Christian workers for oureach in most parts of Brazil. The IPIB trains lay missionaries in three centres; Cuiaba (West), Florianopolis (South) and Natal (Northeast).

More on: Protestantism in Brazil

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