Brazil: historical highlights
The only Portuguese-speaking country in Latin America, Brazil became an empire in the 19th century. Throughout the centuries, however, it played only a minor role in shaping the world – but that is now changing fast.
The only Portuguese-speaking country in Latin America, Brazil was first penetrated by Europeans in the late 1600s – initially by Jesuit pioneers proselytizing to indigenous Guaraní, followed by Portuguese immigrants.
Booms in sugar, gold, diamonds, cotton and coffee all shook the country, coffee (started in the late 18th century) being the biggest and most lasting.
Brazil became an empire in the 19th century, having played only a minor role in shaping the world throughout the centuries. The 20th century, notably the Brazilian Miracle of 1968–1980, brought seismic changes to the Brazilian economy and to the social fabric itself, with Brazil moving from being a rural to an urban nation.
Since then, although economic cycles of boom and bust have plagued the country, more recently they have been replaced by steady growth, with Brazil making its presence felt on the international stage. In 2002, former metalworker Luis Inácio da Silva, popularly known as Lula, became Brazil's first left-wing president in 40 years. He followed sensible economic policies and was re-elected in 2006.
Huge natural resources secure the country’s future, but they bring responsibilities toward the environment, particularly in the Amazon region, where destruction has occurred on a massive scale. Although Lula and his successor, Dilma Rouseff – Brazil's first female president, elected in 2010 – have been criticized for a lack of commitment in protecting the rainforest, in June 2004 Lula did announce the designation of four new national forests, covering around 400,000 hectares (1 million acres) of threatened land.
As Brazil’s first female President, Rousseff has helped increase the profile of women in both Brazil’s political and business sectors, and by 2013 over a quarter of her cabinet were women.
Although the Brazilian economy has fared better than most throughout the world economic downturn – Brazil has now become one of the world’s 10 biggest economies, with a GDP over US$1.3 trillion, and nearly 70 percent of its exports are industrial goods – 2013 saw growing unrest in Brazil as sections of the public more vocally questioned government economic and social policies, as well as the Workers Party’s behaviour. The gap between rich and poor is still greater than almost anywhere else in the world, and in most cities, unemployment has led to a rise in crime. However, the Presidential elections of October 2014, and Rousseff’s chances of re-election, may depend more on the success of the 2014 World Cup, and the Brazilian team, rather than economic indicators.
• 1968–1980: the 'Brazilian Miracle'
Brazil history timeline
Colonial Era (1500–1822)
1409
The Treaty of Tordesillas divides the non-European world between Portugal and Spain. Portugal gets
present-day Brazil.
1500
Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral is the first European to set foot in Brazil, which he names
Ilha de Vera Cruz.
1501–2
Amerigo Vespucci sails along the Brazilian coast, naming places after the saints on whose days they were first sighted.
1533
The colony is divided into 15 captaincies, each governed by a Portuguese courtier.
1549
A central administration based in Salvador oversees the capitanias. Colonists and Jesuit missionaries argue about the treatment of Amerindians. Royal decree gives Jesuits control over Christianised Amerindians; colonists are allowed to enslave those captured in war. Colonists import slaves to boost workforce.
1555
The French build a garrison on the site of present-day Rio de Janeiro, but are driven out in 1565 by governor general Mem de Sá, who founds a city.
1550–1800
Sugar cane, grown on huge plantations worked by African slaves, is the most important crop, supplemented by tobacco, cattle and, later, cotton and coffee.
1580–1640
Portugal and Spain are united.
1600s
Expeditions (bandeiras) of settlers delve into the interior in search of gold and slaves. Many Amerindians are wiped out by European diseases, enslavement and massacres.
1624–54
The Dutch West India Company conquers much of the northeast. A Dutch prince, Maurice of Nassau, rules
Pernambuco, in the heart of the sugar cane-growing region, 1637–44.
1695
Discovery of gold in Minas Gerais leads to the growth of gold-rush towns in the interior.
1759
After years of disputes with colonists and Portuguese government, Jesuits are expelled.
1763
Rio de Janeiro becomes the capital city.
1789
An independence movement, the Inconfidência Mineira, springs up in Ouro Preto. In 1792 its leader, Joaquim José da Silva Xavier (Tiradentes) is hanged and the movement collapses soon afterwards.
1807
King João VI flees Portugal to escape Napoleon, and establishes his court in Rio. He introduces many reforms; Brazil is allowed to trade freely.
1821
João returns to Portugal and names his son, Pedro, as prince regent and governor of Brazil.
The Empire (1822–89)
1822
Pedro I?proclaims independence from Portugal, and establishes Brazilian Empire, which is recognized by the US and, in 1825, by Portugal.
1831
Pedro I abdicates in favour of his five-year-old son (also Pedro). Political leaders run the country, and face revolts and army rebellions.
1840–89
The reign of Pedro II sees the population increase from 4 million to 14 million. Wars with neighboring countries strengthen the military, while the emperor’s opposition to slavery makes him enemies among the landowning class.
1853
Importation of slaves ends.
1870–1914
Manaus becomes prosperous from Amazonian rubber trade, but declines when Asia starts producing the crop, using seeds smuggled out of Brazil.
1871
All children born to slaves are declared free.
1888
The last slaves are freed.
Republican Brazil (1889–1963)
1889
Pedro II overthrown by the military and sent into exile.
1890s
Coffee makes São Paulo the country’s commercial center and dominant power base.
1894
Prudente de Morais becomes first elected civilian president.
1930–45
After riots, the army installs Getúlio Vargas as president. He assumes total power, brings in social security and minimum wage.
1942
Brazil declares war on Germany – the only Latin American country to take an active part in World War II.
1950–4
Vargas again made president, this time in a democratic election. In 1954, on the brink of a military coup, he commits suicide.
1953
Founding of national oil company, Petrobras.
1956
President Juscelino Kubits-chek unveils a five-year plan aiming to achieve rapid industrialization.
1958
With Pelé in its side, Brazil wins World Cup in Sweden.
1960
The new capital city, Brasília, is inaugurated.
1961
President Jânio Quadros resigns, after only seven months in office.
1962
Brazil retains the World Cup in Chile.
Military Dictatorship (1964–84)
1964–7
General Castelo Branco rules as president after a successful military coup.
1968
General Arthur da Costa e Silva closes Congress and institutes a program of repression.
1969–74
Under General Emílio Garrastazu Medici, state terrorism is used against insurgents, but the economy soars.
1970
In Mexico, Brazil wins the World Cup for third time to win Jules Rimet Trophy outright.
1972
Emerson Fittipaldi becomes the first Brazilian to win the Formula One drivers’ championship. He wins again in 1974, becoming CART champion in 1989 and two-time winner of Indianapolis 500.
1974–9
General Ernesto Geisel begins a gradual relaxation of the military regime.
1979
João Baptista Figueiredo becomes military president. Political rights restored to the opposition.
1981
Nelson Piquet is Formula One World Champion. He wins again in 1983 and 1987.
1982
Latin American debt crisis – Brazil has the largest national debt in the Third World.
1984
1.5 million Brazilians demonstrate in São Paulo for the return of democratic rights, “Direitos Já”.
1985–Present
1985
Tancredo Neves becomes presi-dent, but dies six weeks later; José Sarney succeeds him. Rock in Rio, Brazil’s largest rock festival takes place; he crowd is estimated at 1.5 million. Further festivals are held in 1991, 2001 and 2011.
1986
Sarney’s economic package, the Cruzado Plan, attempts unsuccessfully to curb rampant inflation.
1988
A new constitution is introduced. Chico Mendes, defender of the rainforest, is murdered. Ayrton Senna is Formula One World Champion; he wins again in 1990 and 1991.
1989
Fernando Collor de Mello is elected president.
1992
UN Earth Summit is held in Rio, at the time the largest-ever gathering of heads of state and government.
1992
Collor resigns amid corruption scandals.
1994
National hero Ayrton Senna dies after a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix.
1994
Brazil wins the World Cup in the US.
1994
Fernando Henrique Cardoso is elected president. His Plano Real brings inflation under control and he is re-elected
in 1998.
2000
Brazil celebrates its 500th anniversary as a country.
2001
Such is the potential of Brazil, Russia, India and China to be the dominant global economies by 2050, they become known as the “BRIC” countries.
2002
Brazil wins World Cup for a fifth time in Japan and Korea. Financial markets in Brazil and abroad panic at the prospect of victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He becomes the country’s first left-wing president for 40 years.
2003
21 people killed when a space satellite explodes at the Alcântara space center.
2004
Brazil, with Germany, Japan and India, launches a bid to become a member of the UN Security Council. Brazil’s first space rocket launched.
2005
Senior figures in Lula’s Workers’ Party resign after serious allegations of corruption.
2006
A private executive jet en route to the US collides with a Gol Boeing 737 over Mato Grosso; 154 passengers and crew are killed. In the second round of voting in the presidential elections, Lula is re-elected to a second four-year term.
2007
Government recognizes human-rights abuses carried out under the military dictatorship between 1964 and 1985. Rio de Janeiro hosts the Pan American Games. Awarded the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
2008
Environment minister Marina Silva resigns from the government and joins the Green Party. She is the party’s presidential candidate in 2010. Brazil turns down an invitation to join Opec.
2009
Brazil offers $10 billion to the IMF to improve the availability of credit in developing countries. President Obama says at the G20 in London that President Lula is “most popular politician on earth”. Rio de Janeiro awarded the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Massive “Pré-sal” (pre-salt) oil and gas fields discovered off the coast of Brazil.
2010
Dilma Rousseff is elected as Brazil's first female president, with 56 percent of the vote.
2013
A fire in a nightclub in Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, kills at least 242 people. Brazil hosts and wins the Confederations Cup. There is widespread civil unrest during the tournament as sections of the public protest about the behavior of politicians and a series of diverse issues.
2014
Brazil to host the FIFA World Cup Tournament. Presidential elections due.
2016
Rio de Janeiro to host the Olympic and Paralympic games.
Read more from the travel guide to Brazil
