Colonial Brazil

Colonial Brazil refers to the period from 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese, until 1815, when Brazil was elevated to a kingdom in union with Portugal. This period was marked by the exploration and exploitation of Brazil's natural resources, particularly Brazilwood and later sugar cane, and the establishment of a Portuguese colonial society.

Discovery and Early Exploration

The discovery of Brazil was a result of the Age of Discovery, a period of intense maritime exploration by European powers. The Portuguese navigator Pedro Álvares Cabral is credited with the discovery of Brazil in 1500. Initially, the Portuguese Crown showed little interest in its new colony, focusing instead on trade with the East Indies.

Colonial Economy

The economy of Colonial Brazil was based on a plantation system, with sugar cane being the primary crop. The sugar industry was labor-intensive and relied heavily on slavery. The Portuguese also exploited other natural resources, such as Brazilwood, which was used for dye, and later gold and diamonds.

Colonial Society

Colonial society in Brazil was highly stratified, with a small elite of Portuguese landowners and merchants at the top and a large population of African slaves and indigenous people at the bottom. The Portuguese Crown maintained control over the colony through a system of Captaincies, which were land grants given to loyal Portuguese nobles.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Church played a significant role in Colonial Brazil. The Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, were particularly active in the colony, establishing missions to convert the indigenous people to Christianity.

Independence

The period of Colonial Brazil ended in 1815 when the Portuguese Crown elevated Brazil to the status of a kingdom united with Portugal. This was a precursor to the Brazilian Independence in 1822.