Transcript Brazil

Brazil
World Studies
Why study Brazil?
• 5th largest country in the world, both in terms
of population (192 million) and land area.
• Fastest growing economy in the world;
currently 6th largest.
• Home to “mega-cities”: Rio de Janiero and Sao
Paulo
• Host of the 2014 World Cup (soccer) and the
2016 Summer Olympics.
• A diverse and unique culture
Where in the world?
Brazil Physical Map…what do you see?
Mega Cities of Brazil
Rio de Janiero (12 million)
Sao Paulo (20 million)
Geography of Brazil
• Brazil is very diverse geographically and
ecologically.
• Amazon river
– Largest river in the world by volume of water
• Amazon rainforest
– Largest rainforest in the world
– Diversity of plant and animal species, many not even
discovered yet.
• Eastern Atlantic coast
– Long coast line, beautiful beaches, location of major
cities (Rio de Janiero, Sao Paulo)
Amazon River/ Rainforest
Brief History of Brazil
• Pre 1500: Indigenous people (natives)
populate the area of Brazil
• 1500-1822: Colonized by Portugal
• 1550-1888: 3 million African slaves
transported to Brazil (35% of total slaves)
• 1822: Independence from Portugal
• 2010: Dilma Rousseff 1st woman elected as
president of Brazil.
Slave Trade to Brazil
President Dilma Roussef
The People of Brazil
• The people and culture of Brazil are extremely
diverse.
• Ethnicity
– 48% white (European descent), 43% mixed, 8%
black, 1% Asian, less that 1% native
• Religion
– Christian (74% Catholic, 15% Protestant)
• Language
– Portuguese
Ethnic Diversity
Brazilian National Soccer Team
Current Issue #1: Favelas
• Brazil experienced rapid population growth as
people moved from rural to urban areas.
• As a result, cities such as Rio de Janiero grew very
rapidly.
• Development of new housing, public services,
could not keep up with the rapid population
growth.
• Slums, called favelas, developed on the outskirts
of these cities.
– Poverty, violence, crime, lack of services plague the
favelas.
Favelas in Brazil
Current Issue #2: Deforestation in the
Amazon
• The Amazon rainforest covers much of northern
Brazil.
• The rainforest is extremely rich in biodiversity and
natural resources.
– Rare/ unknown plant and animal species.
– Possible cures to various diseases
• Much of the Amazon is being destroyed to make
room for development and cattle grazing.
• Efforts are being made to slow the deforestation
Deforestation