Brazil History
The recorded history of Brazil (the name stands of brazilwood, source of red dye, called Terra do Brasil) began with the arrival of Portuguese sailors. Brazil was discovered in April 21st 1500 by Portuguese commander Pedro Alvares Cabral who was appointed by Manuel I (King of Portugal and Algarves).
The treaty of Tordesilhas of 1494 divided the discovered South American continent between Portugal and Spain and assigned to the rst a considerable part of modern Brazil (which in 1494 was still undiscovered). Modern Brazil is the worlds fth largest country. However for the rst 200 years since its discovery, Brazil was not so crucial for the Portuguese empire and the crown, in strategic and economic terms. Nevertheless, amazonian drugs, gold, …show more content…
After a period of chaos and war, Brazil entered the two nal decades of monarchy from year 1870 to 1890, the so-called Second Empire. During the period from 1864-1870 Brazil with its allies,
Argentina and Uruguay, ght a war against Paraguay. The military of Brazil as an institution appeared to have a signi cant role from that period and onwards. Five years of conicts increased both its signi cance and its size. The army from 17,000 soldiers in 1864 accounted to 100,000 by the end of 1870. The war ended nding Brazil and its allies winners, but at a high price. After nishing their military actions in
1870, o¢ cers focused their attention on politics. The Duque de Caxias, held the military under constant audit. However, his death in 1880 gave to the military more signi cant political role. Hence, now into the parliament there were two classes. From ne side the landed aristocracy with their traditional way of thinking and political acting, and from the other military o¢ cers, who represented the middle classes of the society. The military started publicly to express its opinion and to debate governmental policies in
1879.
Although the decline of the empire was attributed to several reasons the main ones are three;
The treaty of Tordesilhas of 1494 divided the discovered South American continent between Portugal and Spain and assigned to the rst a considerable part of modern Brazil (which in 1494 was still undiscovered). Modern Brazil is the worlds fth largest country. However for the rst 200 years since its discovery, Brazil was not so crucial for the Portuguese empire and the crown, in strategic and economic terms. Nevertheless, amazonian drugs, gold, …show more content…
After a period of chaos and war, Brazil entered the two nal decades of monarchy from year 1870 to 1890, the so-called Second Empire. During the period from 1864-1870 Brazil with its allies,
Argentina and Uruguay, ght a war against Paraguay. The military of Brazil as an institution appeared to have a signi cant role from that period and onwards. Five years of conicts increased both its signi cance and its size. The army from 17,000 soldiers in 1864 accounted to 100,000 by the end of 1870. The war ended nding Brazil and its allies winners, but at a high price. After nishing their military actions in
1870, o¢ cers focused their attention on politics. The Duque de Caxias, held the military under constant audit. However, his death in 1880 gave to the military more signi cant political role. Hence, now into the parliament there were two classes. From ne side the landed aristocracy with their traditional way of thinking and political acting, and from the other military o¢ cers, who represented the middle classes of the society. The military started publicly to express its opinion and to debate governmental policies in
1879.
Although the decline of the empire was attributed to several reasons the main ones are three;