BrazilBrazilBy: Jessica BakkenBy: Jessica Bakken

GeographyGeography

““Brazil is the fifth largest country in Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world; in terms of population the world; in terms of population (186 million in 2005) as well as land (186 million in 2005) as well as land area. It is the economic leader of area. It is the economic leader of South America, with the ninth South America, with the ninth largest economy in the world, and a largest economy in the world, and a large iron and aluminum ore large iron and aluminum ore reserve”reserve”

Brazil has diverse topography as Brazil has diverse topography as seen when looking as the Amazon seen when looking as the Amazon basin to the North and the highlands basin to the North and the highlands in the Southeastin the Southeast

The basin, occupying more than The basin, occupying more than sixty percent of the entire country, sixty percent of the entire country, receives more than eighty inches of receives more than eighty inches of rain a year in some areas rain a year in some areas

Almost all of Brazil is humid as well Almost all of Brazil is humid as well as either has a tropical or as either has a tropical or subtropical climate subtropical climate

Geography (cont.)Geography (cont.)

Brazil encompasses so much of South Brazil encompasses so much of South America that it shares borders with all America that it shares borders with all South American nations except South American nations except Ecuador and Chile. Brazil is divided Ecuador and Chile. Brazil is divided into 26 states and a Federal District into 26 states and a Federal District

The state of Amazonas has the largest The state of Amazonas has the largest area and the most populous is Sao area and the most populous is Sao Paulo Paulo

Two of the world's fifteen largest cities Two of the world's fifteen largest cities are in Brazil: Sao Paulo and Rio de are in Brazil: Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and are only about 250 miles Janeiro, and are only about 250 miles (400 km) apart (400 km) apart

Sao Paulo is growing at an incredible Sao Paulo is growing at an incredible rate as shown when the population rate as shown when the population doubled since 1977, it was an 11 doubled since 1977, it was an 11 million people metropolis. million people metropolis.

Both cities have a huge ever-Both cities have a huge ever-expanding ring of shanty towns and expanding ring of shanty towns and squatter settlements on their peripherysquatter settlements on their periphery

PeoplePeople

Brazilians are mostly descendants of Brazilians are mostly descendants of colonial and post-colonial Portuguese colonial and post-colonial Portuguese settlers and immigrants, African slaves settlers and immigrants, African slaves and Brazil's indigenous peoples, along and Brazil's indigenous peoples, along with several other groups of immigrants with several other groups of immigrants who arrived in Brazil mostly from the who arrived in Brazil mostly from the 1820s until the 1970s. Most of the 1820s until the 1970s. Most of the immigrants were Italians and immigrants were Italians and Portuguese, but also significant Portuguese, but also significant numbers of Germans, Spaniards, numbers of Germans, Spaniards, Japanese, and Lebanese and SyriansJapanese, and Lebanese and Syrians

Whites constitute the majority of Brazil's Whites constitute the majority of Brazil's population and the country has the population and the country has the second largest White population in the second largest White population in the Americas, around 93 million, after only Americas, around 93 million, after only the United States, the largest in the the United States, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and the third Southern Hemisphere, and the third largest in the World, after the U.S. and largest in the World, after the U.S. and Russia Russia

People (cont.)People (cont.)

Since the people are diverse in origin, Since the people are diverse in origin, and Brazil often boasts that the new and Brazil often boasts that the new “race” of Brazilians is a successful“race” of Brazilians is a successful amalgam of African, European, and amalgam of African, European, and indigenous strains, a claim that is truer indigenous strains, a claim that is truer in the social than the political or in the social than the political or economic realmeconomic realm

An the estimated 150,000 indigenous An the estimated 150,000 indigenous peoples (chiefly of Tupí or Guaraní peoples (chiefly of Tupí or Guaraní linguistic stock) are found in the rain linguistic stock) are found in the rain forests of the Amazon River basin and forests of the Amazon River basin and roughly 12% of Brazil's land has been roughly 12% of Brazil's land has been set aside as indigenous areasset aside as indigenous areas

About 75% of the population is at least About 75% of the population is at least nominally Roman Catholic; there is a nominally Roman Catholic; there is a growing Protestant minoritygrowing Protestant minority

In the early 1960s, women could In the early 1960s, women could expect to have 6 children on average. expect to have 6 children on average. Such figure fell to an average of 2.4 Such figure fell to an average of 2.4 children per woman in 2004 children per woman in 2004

CultureCulture

““Brazilian culture is one of the most Brazilian culture is one of the most fascinating in the world. The only fascinating in the world. The only Portuguese speaking country in South Portuguese speaking country in South America, Brazilian culture has America, Brazilian culture has managed to blend elements of many managed to blend elements of many diverse cultures into one incredible mix diverse cultures into one incredible mix that is unique in its uninhibited flair that is unique in its uninhibited flair and passionate way of life” and passionate way of life”

This culture, however, was strongly This culture, however, was strongly influenced by African, Indigenous influenced by African, Indigenous cultures and traditions, and other non-cultures and traditions, and other non-Portuguese European peoplePortuguese European people

Some aspects of Brazilian culture are Some aspects of Brazilian culture are contributions of Italian, German and contributions of Italian, German and other European immigrants; came in other European immigrants; came in large numbers and their influences are large numbers and their influences are felt closer to the South and Southeast felt closer to the South and Southeast of Brazil of Brazil

Culture (cont.)Culture (cont.)

Culture is defined as being, “the Culture is defined as being, “the cumulative deposit of knowledge, cumulative deposit of knowledge, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, experience, beliefs, values, attitudes, meanings, hierarchies, religion, meanings, hierarchies, religion, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, notions of time, roles, spatial relations, concepts of the universe, and material concepts of the universe, and material objects and possessions acquired by a objects and possessions acquired by a group of people in the course of group of people in the course of generations through individual and generations through individual and group strivinggroup striving

Overall Brazil has a mixture of cultures Overall Brazil has a mixture of cultures intertwined into what you can define intertwined into what you can define Brazil as being and there are different Brazil as being and there are different areas of Brazil that have different areas of Brazil that have different forms of culture for instanceforms of culture for instance

BeachBeach AmazonAmazon CitiesCities Rural AreasRural Areas

HistoryHistory

Portugal began colonization in 1532 Portugal began colonization in 1532 and made the area a royal colony in and made the area a royal colony in 1549 even though there were 1549 even though there were indigenous people known as the indigenous people known as the nomadic Tupí-Guaraní Indians already nomadic Tupí-Guaraní Indians already living thereliving there

During the Napoleonic Wars, King João During the Napoleonic Wars, King João VI, fearing the advancing French VI, fearing the advancing French armies, fled Portugal in 1808 and set up armies, fled Portugal in 1808 and set up his court in Rio de Janeirohis court in Rio de Janeiro

When Portugal tried to reinstate colonial When Portugal tried to reinstate colonial rule, the prince declared Brazil's rule, the prince declared Brazil's independence on Sept. 7, 1822, independence on Sept. 7, 1822, becoming Pedro I, emperor of Brazilbecoming Pedro I, emperor of Brazil

Although a republic was proclaimed in Although a republic was proclaimed in 1889, Brazil was ruled by military 1889, Brazil was ruled by military dictatorships until a revolt permitted a dictatorships until a revolt permitted a gradual return to stability under civilian gradual return to stability under civilian presidepreside

History (cont.)History (cont.) After a military coup in 1964, Brazil had a After a military coup in 1964, Brazil had a

series of military governments. Gen. João series of military governments. Gen. João Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo became Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo became president in 1979 and pledged a return to president in 1979 and pledged a return to democracy in 1985democracy in 1985

The first five years of restored civilian rule The first five years of restored civilian rule bring a certain utopian excitement, with the bring a certain utopian excitement, with the writing of a new constitution (based on the writing of a new constitution (based on the US model) and ambitious plans for major US model) and ambitious plans for major land reform by the year 2000. But the land reform by the year 2000. But the Brazilian economy once again gives cause Brazilian economy once again gives cause for concern, and from 1992 the political for concern, and from 1992 the political process is itself in deep troubleprocess is itself in deep trouble

In 1994 the democratic process is safely In 1994 the democratic process is safely back on track, with the election of back on track, with the election of Fernando Henrique Cardoso of the PSDB Fernando Henrique Cardoso of the PSDB (Party of Brazilian Social Democracy) as (Party of Brazilian Social Democracy) as presidentpresident

During the mid-1990s the economy During the mid-1990s the economy improves, with privatization measures improves, with privatization measures under way but 1998 brings a major crisis under way but 1998 brings a major crisis with the sudden collapse of the Brazilian with the sudden collapse of the Brazilian stock marketstock market

SourcesSources

http://geography.about.com/od/specificplacesofinterest/a/geographyofbraz.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_people http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0857008.html http://www.kidscornerbrazil.org/content/people.php http://www.nexussurf.com/culture.html http://www.geographia.com/brazil/brazihistory.htm http://www.tamu.edu/classes/cosc/choudhury/culture.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107357.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107357.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107357.html http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107357.html http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&tab=wi http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?

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