Culture of Brazil

BRAZIL History

The Portuguese were the first European settlers to arrive in the area, led by adventurous Pedro Cabral, who began the colonial period in 1500. The Portuguese reportedly found native Indians numbering around seven million. Most tribes were peripatetic, with only limited agriculture and temporary dwellings, although villages often had as many as 5000 inhabitants. Cultural life appears to have been richly developed, although both tribal warfare and cannibalism were ubiquitous. The few remaining traces of Brazil's Indian tribes reveal little of their lifestyle, unlike the evidence from other Andean tribes. Today, fewer than 200,000 of Brazil's indigenous people survive, most of whom inhabit the jungle areas.

Other Portuguese explorers followed Cabral, in search of valuable goods for European trade but also for unsettled land and the opportunity to escape poverty in Portugal itself. The only item of value they discovered was the pau do brasil (brazil wood tree) from which they created red dye. Unlike the colonizing philosophy of the Spanish, the Portuguese in Brazil were much less focused at first on conquering, controlling, and developing the country. Most were

impoverished sailors, who were far more interested in profitable trade and subsistence agriculture than in territorial expansion. The country's interior remained unexplored.

Nonetheless, sugar soon came to Brazil, and with it came imported slaves. To a degree unequaled in most of the American colonies, the Portuguese settlers frequently intermarried with both the Indians and the African slaves, and there were also mixed marriages between the Africans and Indians. As a result, Brazil's population is intermingled to a degree that is unseen elsewhere. Most Brazilians possess some combination of European, African, Amerindian, Asian, and Middle Eastern lineage,and this multiplicity of cultural legacies is a notable feature of current Brazilian culture.

The move to open the country's interior coincided with the discovery in the 1690s of gold in the south-central part of the country. The country's gold deposits didn't pan out, however, and by the close of the 18th century the country's focus had returned to the coastal agricultural regions. In 1807, as Napoleon Bonaparte closed in on Portugal's capital city of Lisbon, the Prince Regent shipped himself off to Brazil. Once there, Dom Joao established the colony as the capital of his empire. By 1821 things in Europe had cooled down sufficiently that Dom Joao could return to Lisbon, and he left his son Dom Pedro I in charge of Brazil. When the king attempted the following year to return Brazil to subordinate status as a colony, Dom Pedro flourished his sword and declared the country's independence from Portugal (and his own independence from his father).

In the 19th century coffee took the place of sugar as Brazil's most important product. The boom in coffee production brought a wave of almost one million European immigrants, mostly Italians, and also brought about the Brazilian republic. In 1889, the wealthy coffee magnates backed a military coup, the emperor fled, and Brazil was no more an imperial country. The coffee planters virtually owned the country and the government for the next thirty years, until the worldwide depression evaporated coffee demand. For the next half century Brazil struggled with governmental instability, military coups, and a fragile economy. In 1989, the country enjoyed its first democratic election in almost three decades. Unfortunately, the Brazilians made the mistake of electing Fernando Collor de Mello. Mello's corruption did nothing to help the economy, but his peaceful removal from office indicated at least that the country's political and governmental structures are stable.

Brazil has the sixth largest population in the world--about 148 million people--which has doubled in the past 30 years. Because of its size, there are only 15 people per sq. km, concentrated mainly along the coast and in the major cities, where two-thirds of the people now live: over 19 million in greater Sao Paulo and 10 million in greater Rio.

The immigrant Portuguese language was greatly influenced by the numerous Indian and African dialects they encountered, but it remains the dominant language in Brazil today. In fact, the Brazilian dialect has become the dominant influence in the development of the Portuguese language, for the simple reason that Brazil has 15 times the population of Portugal and a much more dynamic linguistic environment.

Brazil Culture and Information. New World in the Tropics.

Brazil has been shaped not only by the Portuguese, who gave the country its most common religion and language, but also by the country's native Indians, the considerable African population, and other settlers from all over the world.

Amazon River and Rainforest

The Amazon is the largest rainforest on the planet and the river (together with tributaries) create nearly 80 000km² of navigable river systems covering at least half of Brazil. Large areas of the Amazon rainforest still remain unexplored, however, and tens of thousands of rare and unknown species of animals, birds, insects, fish and plants are sheltered in and beneath the thick tree canopies.

Brazil Culture and Information: It is said that one in 10 known species of living plants, animals and insects can be found in the Amazon, while a square kilometre may contain over 75 000 types of trees and 150 000 species of higher plants. It is truly the Earth’s “lung”.

With the country's enormous size, growing population and economy, and exuberant culture, Brazil is now solidly established as a regional power. Facts and myths of Brazil are often intermixed in the mind of the visitor.

Brazil Population: In 2002 Brazil's population reached 175 million, (today it is estimated at 185 million) the sixth largest in the world after those of China, India, the United States, Indonesia and the Russian Federation.

The population is predominantly young: 62% of Brazilians are under 29 years of age.

Brazil's rate of population growth, high throughout the early and mid-20th century, has decreased significantly since 1970, largely due to economic modernisation and also a dramatic urbanisation process.

(In 1980, 67% of the population lived in cities; by 2000 the figure was more than 81%.)

The annual rate of population growth fell from 2.9% in the 1960s to less than 1.9% in the 1990s. Behind these figures was a fall in the fertility rate from 6.3 children per woman in the early 1960s to 4.4 in the 1980s.

Although Brazil is the sixth most populous nation in the world, its average population density is low compared to that of other countries.

Most people live along the Atlantic coastal areas of the southeastern and northeastern states.

Industrial activity is concentrated in the southeastern region, with 50 percent of industrial production located in the state of Sao Paulo.

Migration from the northeast to the southeast, as well as from rural to urban areas, has been very significant since 1970.

More recently, the population flow has turned towards the less inhabited central-western and northern regions.

Brazilian Foods

Brazilians like their food and any meal is as much a form of relaxation and entertainment as going to the cinema, relaxing on the beach or playing a game of tennis. In Brazil, a meal is to be enjoyed and savored and is very much a social occasion. It calls for Brazilian music to go with it!

Brazilian Foods

Due to the diversity of the immigrant population, it is possible to find just about every ethnic cuisine in Brazil. This is especially true for the city of Sao Paulo, which rivals New York and Paris as one of the world's great gastronomic centres. With the great ethnic diversity of restaurants and ingredients, Brazil has developed its own distinct cuisines.

“Brazil is kaleidoscopic. -- The country's modern cooking is a mixture of Portuguese, African and primitive Indian influences, and it is both unique and quite good.”

Brazilian Foods - Distinct Cuisines

The best-known regional cuisine comes from Bahia and is the spiciest in the land. Bahian cuisine reflects not only its tropical setting but also the African, European and other cultures that have made the region their home since 1500. The entire northeast has its own regional dishes, as does the Amazon region, which makes good use of the abundance of river fish, most of which are unknown to European and North American tables.

Brazil boasts 17 World Heritage Sites

These are important sites in Brazil Information History:

Brazil boasts 17 World Heritage Sites.

They are listed below in chronological order:

• 1980 Historic Town of Ouro Preto
• 1982 Historic Center of the Town of Olinda
• 1984 The Ruins of São Miguel das Missões
• 1985 Historic Center of Salvador de Bahia
• 1985 Sanctuary of Bom Jesus do Congonhas
• 1986 Iguaçu National Park
• 1987 Brasilia
• 1991 Serra da Capivara National Park
• 1997 Historic Center of São Luís
• 1999 Historic Center of the Town of Diamantina
• 1999 Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves
• 1999 Atlantic Forest Southeast Reserves
• 2000 Pantanal Conservation Area
• 2000 Jaú National Park
• 2001 Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Park
• 2001 Brazilian Atlantic Islands
• 2001 Historic Center of the Town of Goiás

Facts of Brazil - The Amazon River - Amazonas

The Amazon River or River Amazon of South America is the largest river in the world by volume, with greater total river flow than the next eight largest rivers combined, and the largest drainage basin in the world.

Because of its vast dimensions it is sometimes called The River Sea. Most sources regard the Amazon as the second longest river; while some sources disagree.

Facts of Brazil

The Amazon has been measured by different geographers as being anywhere from 3,889 miles to 4,171 miles long. The Nile River in Africa is reported to be anywhere from at 3,417 miles to 4,157 miles.

The area covered by the water of the River and its tributaries more than triples over the course of a year. In an average dry season 42,000 square miles of land are water-covered, while in the wet season the flooded area of the Amazon Basin rises to 135,000 square miles.

Facts of Brazil - Fresh Water

The quantity of fresh water released by the Amazon to the Atlantic Ocean is enormous: up to 300,000 m³ per second in the rainy season. The Amazon is responsible for a fifth of the total volume of fresh water entering the oceans worldwide. Offshore of the mouth of the Amazon, potable water can be drawn from the ocean while still out of sight of the coastline, and the salinity of the ocean is notably lower a hundred miles out to sea.

Swimmer conquers Amazon River

The Amazon estuary is over 202 miles wide. The main river (which is between approximately one and six miles wide) is navigable for large ocean steamers to Manaus, 930 miles upriver from the mouth. Smaller ocean vessels of 3,000 tons and 18 ft draft can reach as far as Iquitos, Peru, 2,240 miles from the sea. Smaller riverboats can reach 485 miles higher as far as Achual Point. Beyond that, small boats frequently ascend to the Pongo de Manseriche, just above Achual Point.

The Amazon drains an area of 2,670,000 square miles, or 40 percent of South America. It gathers its waters from 5 degrees north latitude to 20 degrees south latitude. Its most remote sources are found on the inter-Andean plateau, just a short distance from the Pacific Ocean.

The Amazon has changed its course several times. In early Cenozoic times, before the uplifting of the Andes, it flowed westward.

Relationships & Communication

. Brazilians need to know who they are doing business with before they can work effectively.

. Brazilians prefer face-to-face meetings to written communication as it allows them to know the person with whom they are doing business.

. The individual they deal with is more important than the company.

. Since this is a group culture, it is important that you do not do anything to embarrass a Brazilian.

. Criticizing an individual causes that person to lose face with the others in the meeting.

. The person making the criticism also loses face, as they have disobeyed the unwritten rule.

. Communication is often informal and does not rely on strict rules of protocol. Anyone who feels they have something to say will generally add their opinion.

. It is considered acceptable to interrupt someone who is speaking.

. Face-to-face, oral communication is preferred over written communication. At the same time, when it comes to business agreements, Brazilians insist on drawing up detailed legal contracts.

Business Negotiation

. Expect questions about your company since Brazilians are more comfortable doing business with people and companies they know.

. Wait for your Brazilian colleagues to raise the business subject. Never rush the relationship- building time.

. Brazilians take time when negotiating. Do not rush them or appear impatient.

. Expect a great deal of time to be spent reviewing details.

. Often the people you negotiate with will not have decision-making authority.

. It is advisable to hire a translator if your Portuguese is not fluent.

. Use local lawyers and accountants for negotiations. Brazilians resent an outside legal presence.

. Brazilian business is hierarchical. Decisions are made by the highest-ranking person.

. Brazilians negotiate with people not companies. Do not change your negotiating team or you may have to start over from the beginning.

Business Meeting Etiquette

. Business appointments are required and can often be scheduled on short notice; however, it is best to make them 2 to 3 weeks in advance.

. Confirm the meeting in writing. It is not uncommon for appointments to be cancelled or changed at the last minute.

. In Sao Paulo and Brasilia it is important to arrive on time for meetings. In Rio de Janeiro and other cities it is acceptable to arrive a few minutes late for a meeting.

. Do not appear impatient if you are kept waiting. Brazilians see time as something outside their control and the demands of relationships takes precedence over adhering to a strict schedule.

. Meetings are generally rather informal.

. Expect to be interrupted while you are speaking or making a presentation.

. Avoid confrontations. Do not appear frustrated with your Brazilian colleagues.