The Population and Settlement of Brazil
Nearly eight thousand years ago, nomadic
people populated Brazil. These people were hunters and gatherers from different
parts of Asia who were referred to as the Indians. They settled in Brazil in
search of hunting grounds so that they could survive on the environment’s
resources. There were about two thousand tribes and settlements of the earliest
people (“Brazil History”). In the 1500s, Portuguese arrived in Brazil as
hunters and gathers. As the Portuguese mingled with the Indians, the culture
became mixed but disease took over and wiped out many of the Indian tribes
(“Brazil History”). There were no towns and no domestic animals but the Amazon
and Paraguay River systems were good fertile land and water for farmers and
fishers (“Brazil,” 2015). Portugal had a
massive economic crisis so large numbers of people immigrated to South America
in order to gain safety and economic stability. Many Portuguese settled near
trading posts in order for them to trade hardware for brazilwood. Brazilwood
was a very valuable resource used to make red dye. Other Portuguese settled
near the ocean in order to obtain food, water, and transportation (“Brazil
History”). The Portuguese and nomadic people were the first to populate Brazil.
Shortly after the Portuguese settled in Brazil, Bandeirantes also came. They stole slaves and precious stones to survive. However, they brought cattle. Cattle raising began to expand and herds became very large in size increasing the overall well being of the economy. Cattle could be butchered for food or used to perform manual labor. In the 1960s, gold was found and it gave Brazil the ability to trade. By the 18th century, most of the world’s gold resources were from Brazil. In 1729, diamonds were discovered. This motivated plantation owners from the northeast to come to Brazil in hopes of instant wealth. They spent money on constructing towns, railroads and industries to support the farms and mines, which in return gave Brazil a surplus of exportable goods. Another valuable resource that Brazil had was sugar cane. The inhabitants imported African slaves to work on the plantations and over time, the plantations grew rapidly. Resources were an important reason that people settled in Brazil.
In the nineteenth and twentieth century, other people were experiencing drought, unemployment, and land withholding. Many of them moved from the northeast to Brazil in hopes of having better luck with agriculture near the Amazon River. Coffee became one of the widely produced goods and it drastically increased the wealth of Brazil. Additionally, in the 1870s and 1880s, the process of rubber tapping was developed and Brazil was able to collect latex from rubber trees. People from other places could not survive due to low incomes, limited landownership, and extreme climates; therefore, they migrated to Brazil where the climate was stable, jobs were available, and the economy was stable.
Overall, Brazil used its resources to support the economy by trading and became one of the most developed countries in today’s world. Villages grew into modern cities and the twentieth century drove Brazil towards industrialization with a huge movement of population from rural areas to urban areas. Many people did not live in highlands due to inaccessibility to trade and industries and therefore being unproductive in supporting themselves. People settled near the Atlantic Ocean because it was a source of transportation, food, trade, and much more. Civilizations kept what they needed and traded the surplus to obtain goods and services that they could not obtain on their own. Brazil’s use of its resources and fertile river environments made Brazil the successful country it is today. Today the population is over 205, 053, 000 (the sixth largest in the world) and it has the largest economy in Latin America. The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is heavily populated and the population decreases inland. Brazil grew from nomadic civilizations to an urban industrialized country.
The settlement and population of Brazil supports Jared Diamond’s theory. Brazil’s civilization arose faster than other places due to the physical geography and not by biological differences. The Amazon and Paraguay River as well as other rivers and rainforests provided fertile soil and mild climates that were suitable for growing crops. Brazil was able to grow a variety of crops. In order for a civilization to be successful, they need to produce storable food as well as food surpluses. Brazil had a surplus of goods; therefore, people were able to develop specialized skills. Farmers provided the food in exchange for other services or goods from political leaders, merchants, scribes, and people of other occupations. These specialized skills included writing to communicate, trading to obtain goods and services, weapon making for protection, metalworking to create goods and governing of the civilization. It is much more productive for people to work together by trading goods and services than for each person to do everything for themselves. Additionally, Brazil had specific plants and animals that could be domesticated. Cattle was plentiful in Brazil due to the immigration of the Bandeirantes; therefore, the cattle could provide manual labor and a supply of protein. Diseases and infections from the rearing of cattle and other domesticated animals wiped out Indian civilizations. However, the people of Brazil became immune to the infections and diseases carried by animals over time and they could use this as a lethal weapon against other civilizations (“Guns, Germs, and Steel,” 2005). Brazil used guns, germs, and steel to expand and colonialize.
Works Cited:
Brazil. (2015). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil
Brazil History. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.brazil.org.za/history.html
Guns, Germs, and Steel. (2005). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/index.html
The Portuguese in Brazil. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.theworldeconomy.org/impact/The_Portuguese_in_Brazil.html
Shortly after the Portuguese settled in Brazil, Bandeirantes also came. They stole slaves and precious stones to survive. However, they brought cattle. Cattle raising began to expand and herds became very large in size increasing the overall well being of the economy. Cattle could be butchered for food or used to perform manual labor. In the 1960s, gold was found and it gave Brazil the ability to trade. By the 18th century, most of the world’s gold resources were from Brazil. In 1729, diamonds were discovered. This motivated plantation owners from the northeast to come to Brazil in hopes of instant wealth. They spent money on constructing towns, railroads and industries to support the farms and mines, which in return gave Brazil a surplus of exportable goods. Another valuable resource that Brazil had was sugar cane. The inhabitants imported African slaves to work on the plantations and over time, the plantations grew rapidly. Resources were an important reason that people settled in Brazil.
In the nineteenth and twentieth century, other people were experiencing drought, unemployment, and land withholding. Many of them moved from the northeast to Brazil in hopes of having better luck with agriculture near the Amazon River. Coffee became one of the widely produced goods and it drastically increased the wealth of Brazil. Additionally, in the 1870s and 1880s, the process of rubber tapping was developed and Brazil was able to collect latex from rubber trees. People from other places could not survive due to low incomes, limited landownership, and extreme climates; therefore, they migrated to Brazil where the climate was stable, jobs were available, and the economy was stable.
Overall, Brazil used its resources to support the economy by trading and became one of the most developed countries in today’s world. Villages grew into modern cities and the twentieth century drove Brazil towards industrialization with a huge movement of population from rural areas to urban areas. Many people did not live in highlands due to inaccessibility to trade and industries and therefore being unproductive in supporting themselves. People settled near the Atlantic Ocean because it was a source of transportation, food, trade, and much more. Civilizations kept what they needed and traded the surplus to obtain goods and services that they could not obtain on their own. Brazil’s use of its resources and fertile river environments made Brazil the successful country it is today. Today the population is over 205, 053, 000 (the sixth largest in the world) and it has the largest economy in Latin America. The coast of the Atlantic Ocean is heavily populated and the population decreases inland. Brazil grew from nomadic civilizations to an urban industrialized country.
The settlement and population of Brazil supports Jared Diamond’s theory. Brazil’s civilization arose faster than other places due to the physical geography and not by biological differences. The Amazon and Paraguay River as well as other rivers and rainforests provided fertile soil and mild climates that were suitable for growing crops. Brazil was able to grow a variety of crops. In order for a civilization to be successful, they need to produce storable food as well as food surpluses. Brazil had a surplus of goods; therefore, people were able to develop specialized skills. Farmers provided the food in exchange for other services or goods from political leaders, merchants, scribes, and people of other occupations. These specialized skills included writing to communicate, trading to obtain goods and services, weapon making for protection, metalworking to create goods and governing of the civilization. It is much more productive for people to work together by trading goods and services than for each person to do everything for themselves. Additionally, Brazil had specific plants and animals that could be domesticated. Cattle was plentiful in Brazil due to the immigration of the Bandeirantes; therefore, the cattle could provide manual labor and a supply of protein. Diseases and infections from the rearing of cattle and other domesticated animals wiped out Indian civilizations. However, the people of Brazil became immune to the infections and diseases carried by animals over time and they could use this as a lethal weapon against other civilizations (“Guns, Germs, and Steel,” 2005). Brazil used guns, germs, and steel to expand and colonialize.
Works Cited:
Brazil. (2015). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/place/Brazil
Brazil History. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.brazil.org.za/history.html
Guns, Germs, and Steel. (2005). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/index.html
The Portuguese in Brazil. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.theworldeconomy.org/impact/The_Portuguese_in_Brazil.html
Settlement and Population Maps of Brazil
This map shows the population of Brazil and the heavily populated cities. The darker the color, the more populated the area is. The map shows the persons per square mile where red is the heavily populated areas and yellow is the less populated areas. Many people settled near the Atlantic Ocean because of the fertile land suitable to grow crops, mild climates, trading ports, and method of transportation.
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This map shows the agriculture, mines, deposits, and industry in Brazil. Coffee, sugar cane, cattle, diamonds, and industries are in places that have heavy population. People in Brazil used their resources to survive so they settled near the coast where the resources were located.
Economic Activity. (n.d.). Retrieved September 7, 2015, from http://www.mapcruzin.com/free-maps-brazil/brazil_econ_1977.jpg
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Additional Internet Resources
http://www.localhistories.org/brazil.html
This webpage gives more information about the settlement and population of Brazil from the indigenous time to modern time. It talks about Brazil in the indigenous time, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, military rule time, and the modern day. It explains the when, where, and why for each period of settlement. I highly recommend viewing this website for more in depth information about each time period in the settlement of Brazil.
http://countrystudies.us/brazil/6.htm
This webpage gives more information about the early colonization. It describes the specific events that allowed the Portuguese to settle in Brazil. It explains the resources that helped the civilization to survive. I highly recommend viewing this website for more in depth information about the detailed events that occurred in order for the Portuguese to populate Brazil.
http://www.brazil.org.nz/page/natural-resources.aspx
This webpage gives more information about the natural resources that can be found in Brazil. It describes the vegetation, fauna, and minerals that Brazil has. Additionally, it states how climate affects the vegetation. I highly recommend viewing this website for more in depth information about the resources that helped civilizations settle, survive, and succeed in Brazil.
This webpage gives more information about the settlement and population of Brazil from the indigenous time to modern time. It talks about Brazil in the indigenous time, 16th century, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, 20th century, military rule time, and the modern day. It explains the when, where, and why for each period of settlement. I highly recommend viewing this website for more in depth information about each time period in the settlement of Brazil.
http://countrystudies.us/brazil/6.htm
This webpage gives more information about the early colonization. It describes the specific events that allowed the Portuguese to settle in Brazil. It explains the resources that helped the civilization to survive. I highly recommend viewing this website for more in depth information about the detailed events that occurred in order for the Portuguese to populate Brazil.
http://www.brazil.org.nz/page/natural-resources.aspx
This webpage gives more information about the natural resources that can be found in Brazil. It describes the vegetation, fauna, and minerals that Brazil has. Additionally, it states how climate affects the vegetation. I highly recommend viewing this website for more in depth information about the resources that helped civilizations settle, survive, and succeed in Brazil.
Population Pyramids
This population pyramid shows population for both males and females where blue is males and pink is females. The y-axis is the ages of the population starting at zero and increasing by five year increments. The x-axis is the percent of the population. In this graph of Brazil’s population in the year 1950, most of the population was zero to four years old for both males and females. The population percentage decreases as age rises. Most of the population was in their pre-reproductive and reproductive years. This suggested that population growth would grow rapidly in the coming years as the children of the 1950’s reached their reproductive years. For most of the age categories, males and females were the same percent of the population or the females were slightly higher. During this time period, Brazilians typically did not live to be more than eighty-five years old. This population pyramid shows the population percentage per age group for both females and males.
This population pyramid shows the population percentage per age group for both males and females. In this graph of Brazil’s population in the year 2010, the highest percentage of people was in between the ages of twenty-five and twenty-nine. Most of the population was in their pre-reproductive or reproductive years. The population of ages zero to fifty-four in the year 2010 was more evenly distributed than it was in the year 1950. During this time period, Brazilians typically did not live to be more than ninety-five years old. This population pyramid shows the percentage of population for each gender and age group.
Population Pyramid. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2015, from http://populationpyramid.net/brazil/