PORTUGUESE COLONIZATION OF BRAZIL

I. Introduction: Portuguese Expansion in 15th Century

• Exploration of African coast
• Establishment of feitorias
• 1498 Expansion of trade empire to Indian Ocean
• Discovery of Brazil to east of Tordesillas Line

How did Portuguese and Spanish colonization differ?

II. Settlement of Brazil

A. Early Trading Period, 1500-1534 (Similar to African model)

1. Feitorias: dyewood
2. Tupi-Guarani society: gender division of labor fits Portuguese demand for wood
3. French incursions in territory claimed by Portugal

B. Donatary Captaincy System, 1535-49 (Similar to Atlantic Island model)

1. Definition: 14 with extensive authority and control of territory
2. Successes and failures
3. Native resistance: 1540s wave of rebellions

C. Establishment of royal Authority, 1549- (Relatively similar to Spanish model)

1. Royal Governor sent to Salvador (Bahia) (almost 50 years after first contact)
2. Did not interfere with successful captains (never as centrally controlled as Spanish America)
3. Arrival of Jesuit missionaries (important but relatively less so than Spanish America)

III. Conclusions

Maps

Portuguese explorations

Map of Brazil

ID Terms:

Vasco de Gama (Around Africa to India in 1498)
Pedro Alvares Cabral (Claimed Brazil for Portugal in 1500)
feitoria (fortified trading posts)
Tordesillas Line
Tupi-Guaraní
donatary captains
aldeias (Jesuit mission villages)
Salvador (1st capital of Brazil)

Questions:

How did Portuguese and Spanish colonization differ?

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