South America and South Atlantic Islands

Brazil
Last reviewed: 7 January 2009

Country information

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HISTORY

There are various theories explaining the origins of Brazil's indigenous population. One of the most accepted westernised theories is that they migrated from Asia via the Bering Strait 15-25,000 years before the arrival of the Europeans. Recently, some Brazilian archaeologists have proposed that there was human settlement in Brazil 20,000 years earlier than was initially thought. Subsequent settlement of what is now Brazilian territory has been understood in terms of linguistic and cultural assemblages, with a proposed Amazonian group in the north of Brazil (Amazon Basin) and a second group in the south and coastal areas commonly identified as the Tupi group.

1500 The Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral lands in Brazil.
1572 The King of Portugal creates the Viceroyalty of Brazil in Salvador (Bahia).
1763 Rio de Janeiro proclaimed Brazil's sole Capital.
1789 First independence movement (Minas Gerais)
1807 Napoleon invades Portugal. The Portuguese Regent (later King Dom Joao VI) takes refuge in Brazil.
1821 King Joao VI returns to Portugal leaving his son Pedro as Regent of Brazil.
1822 Pedro declares the independence of Brazil and is proclaimed Emperor.
1831 Dom Pedro I returns to Portugal, leaving Brazil to be governed by a regency.
1840 Pedro II crowned Emperor at the age of 14.
1888 Abolition of slavery.
1889 Brazil is proclaimed a Republic.
1937-45 President Getúlio Vargas' authoritarian regime launches the process of industrialisation.
1944-45 Brazilian troops fight alongside Allies in World War II.
1960 Brasilia becomes the new capital.
1964 Military coup topples democratic regime.
1985 Democracy is restored. Jose Sarney becomes President.
1988 New constitution proclaimed.
1994 Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) elected President, and re-elected in 1998.
2002 Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva elected President.
2006 Luis Inacio Lula da Silva re-elected as President.