1. A Diverse Cultural Region
Brazil

2. Cultural connections Connection between Europe and Brazil
Portuguese were first Europeans to land in Brazil, est. colony at Salvador da Bahia in 1549.
Bandeirantes (Portuguese flag-bearers) initially exploited land for brazilwood (tree) and later used indigenous people to work on sugar cane plantations.
Later exploited minerals such as gold, silver and diamonds which were sent back to Europe.
The Mercantilist system dictated that natural resources in Brazil be exploited by the local people and the resulting wealth be sent to Europe.
African slave trade provided labourers to meet Portuguese demands. African slaves replaced indigenous slaves.

3. Brazil
Europe can be seen as being partly developed by the “blood, sweat and tears” of Brazilian and African slaves.
In 1888, slavery abolished in Brazil, approx. 4 million Africans had been brought to Brazil. This explains Brazil’s current cultural and ethnic diversity.
Like all countries, Brazil’s natural environment has shaped indigenous cultures found in the Amazon. Destruction of the Amazon is now threatening human systems and cultural survival

4. Trans-Atlantic slave trade

5. Cultural snapshot
Create a cultural country snapshot of Brazil by using CIA World Factbook
Include the following in your snapshot:
Capital City
Population
Languages
Religions
Birth Rate, Death Rate, Net Migration Rate
Population Growth Rate
Life Expectancy
Current social issues
Current environmental issues

6. Mapping brazil
As you know, in order to understand the culture of a country, it is important to know about its basic physical geography
Use the map provided to identify Brazil’s states and major cities