Praise for the previous edition:
"...[a] concise and interesting account of the histor[y] of Brazil..."—American Reference Books Annual
Only slightly smaller in size than the United States, Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and home to exotic Rio de Janeiro, the mighty Amazon River, the world-renowned Carnival, and shrinking rainforests.
A Brief History of Brazil, Second Edition offers a concise yet comprehensive account of the rich and varied story of Brazil, placing the political, economic, and cultural events of today into broad historical context. The book opens with an overview of precolonial Brazil and goes on to examine the history of Portuguese exploration, through the early years of the slave trade between Africa and the Americas and the creation of the largest slaveholding society in the modern world. During this era, a vibrant African culture left its mark, joined by influences from European, Asian, and Middle Eastern immigrants, which led to the creation of modern Brazil. After more than three decades of military dictatorship, Brazil is now a democracy. It is also a self-sufficient country, thanks to recent discoveries of offshore oil and gas, and it stands on the brink of becoming a major world player in the oil industry.
A Brief History of Brazil, Second Edition examines key historical figures and the hallmarks of Brazilian popular culture, including soccer, music, and television dramas.
Coverage includes:
- The relationship between slavery and the economic development of Brazil
- The evolution of the roles of women in early Brazilian society
- Brazil's labor movement under Luís Inácio Lula da Silva ("Lula")
- Environmental concerns and activism in modern Brazil
- Senator Benedita da Silva's rise from poverty and her successes as a community leader, role model, and politician
- Brazil's expanding role in world politics in the 21st century.