Brazil's history spans over 11,000 years — from indigenous peoples, Portuguese discovery, slavery, independence, Empire, Republic, military dictatorship, to modern Brazil.
Indigenous Peoples (11,000 BC - 1500)
Estimated 5 million indigenous people lived in Brazil in 1500. Tupinamba, Guarani, Xingu, Yanomami — hundreds of tribes. Over 1,000 distinct languages.
Portuguese Discovery and Colonization (1500-1822)
Pedro Alvares Cabral arrived in Brazil April 22, 1500. Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 divided new world between Portugal and Spain. Sugar dominated colonial economy 16th-17th c. Bandeirantes explored interior. Gold discovered in Minas Gerais 18th c.
Slavery (1530-1888)
4.9 million Africans brought as slaves to Brazil — largest number in any country. Brazil last country in Americas to abolish slavery May 13, 1888 (Golden Law, Princess Isabel).
Independence and Empire (1822-1889)
Dom Pedro I declared independence September 7, 1822 — Cry of Ipiranga. Dom Pedro II ruled 1840-1889 — 49 years, modernized Brazil. Proclamation of Republic November 15, 1889.
Old Republic and Vargas Era (1889-1964)
Old Republic 1889-1930 — coffee with milk oligarchy. Getulio Vargas president 1930-1945, 1951-1954 — modernized Brazil, suicide. JK built Brasilia 1956-1961.
Military Dictatorship (1964-1985)
Military coup March 31, 1964. 21 years of dictatorship. Thousands tortured, hundreds killed. Diretas Ja 1984. Civilians regained power 1985.
Modern Brazil (1985-today)
Constitution 1988. Real Plan 1994 stabilized economy. Lula 2003-2010, 2023-current. Dilma Rousseff 2011-2016, impeached. Bolsonaro 2019-2022. 215 million inhabitants.