An Overview of Brazil
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Brazil is the largest country in South America, with three million square miles of land and 21,000 square miles of water. It is located on the eastern side of the continent with 5,000 miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It borders all other countries in South America except for Ecuador and Chile ("Celebrate Brazil," 2010). The population is 199 million people and the primary language spoken is Portuguese ("The World Factbook," 2012).
Brazil's history dates to the early 16th century when it was settled and colonized by the Portuguese. Similar to the history of the United States, the colonizers came in and displaced and murdered many of the indigenous people that had been living there. Many others died from diseases brought to the country from Europe ("Celebrate Brazil," 2010).
Brazil became an independent nation from Portugal in 1822, and first was a constitutional monarchy known as the Empire of Brazil. Since then, the country has gone through periods of political volatility including years of republican governance and military dictatorship. Since 1985, Brazil has been a republic, and most recently, Dilma Vana Rousseff was elected the first woman president of Brazil in 2010 ("Celebrate Brazil," 2010).
Another parallel to the United States is that Brazil also became active in bringing slaves from Africa in 1550 to work in the sugar cane fields and gold mines. Slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888. The University of Nottingham notes that of 11 million African slaves brought to the New World, 40% went to Brazil (Dunnell, 2009). As a result, African cultural traditions have been incorporated into much of Brazilian life from religion to music.
Brazil is a very culturally and racially diverse nation. While whites are in the majority representing 53.7% of the population, 38.5% of the population are biracial (mixed black and white) ("The World Factbook," 2012).
Brazil also has significant segments of people who have roots from Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany and Japan, among others.
Among Brazil's major industries are agriculture, mining, manufacturing and service industries. Their traditionally high income inequality has declined over each of the last 12 years. In 2011, Brazil overtook the United Kingdom as the seventh largest economy in terms of GDP. Brazil has become an economic power to be watched on the global stage ("The World Factbook," 2012).
My interview subject, Claudia Costabile (personal communication, October 27, 2012), describes her native people as very affectionate, very talkative, tolerant and open minded. Celebration and festivals such as Carnival are among some of the cultural traditions that Brazil is known for around the world. Soccer is the national sport, and Brazil looks forward to hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Rio de Janeiro will host the Summer Olympics in 2016.
Brazil's history dates to the early 16th century when it was settled and colonized by the Portuguese. Similar to the history of the United States, the colonizers came in and displaced and murdered many of the indigenous people that had been living there. Many others died from diseases brought to the country from Europe ("Celebrate Brazil," 2010).
Brazil became an independent nation from Portugal in 1822, and first was a constitutional monarchy known as the Empire of Brazil. Since then, the country has gone through periods of political volatility including years of republican governance and military dictatorship. Since 1985, Brazil has been a republic, and most recently, Dilma Vana Rousseff was elected the first woman president of Brazil in 2010 ("Celebrate Brazil," 2010).
Another parallel to the United States is that Brazil also became active in bringing slaves from Africa in 1550 to work in the sugar cane fields and gold mines. Slavery was abolished in Brazil in 1888. The University of Nottingham notes that of 11 million African slaves brought to the New World, 40% went to Brazil (Dunnell, 2009). As a result, African cultural traditions have been incorporated into much of Brazilian life from religion to music.
Brazil is a very culturally and racially diverse nation. While whites are in the majority representing 53.7% of the population, 38.5% of the population are biracial (mixed black and white) ("The World Factbook," 2012).
Brazil also has significant segments of people who have roots from Portugal, Italy, Spain, Germany and Japan, among others.
Among Brazil's major industries are agriculture, mining, manufacturing and service industries. Their traditionally high income inequality has declined over each of the last 12 years. In 2011, Brazil overtook the United Kingdom as the seventh largest economy in terms of GDP. Brazil has become an economic power to be watched on the global stage ("The World Factbook," 2012).
My interview subject, Claudia Costabile (personal communication, October 27, 2012), describes her native people as very affectionate, very talkative, tolerant and open minded. Celebration and festivals such as Carnival are among some of the cultural traditions that Brazil is known for around the world. Soccer is the national sport, and Brazil looks forward to hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Rio de Janeiro will host the Summer Olympics in 2016.