Brief History

The first inhabitants of Brazil were Indigenous people who were in the area over 10,000 years ago. They lived mainly along the coast and near rivers. Not much is known of Brazil’s history before the year 1500, when Portuguese explorers arrived and claimed Brazil. The group was led by Pedro Alvares Cabral. The Portuguese brought slaves from Africa to work on sugarcane plantations. In 1549, Jesuit priests arrived in Brazil and began to convert locals to Christianity. The Jesuits established the town of Sao Paulo in 1557. Through the years, the area that is now Brazil was expanded through wars and battles. The Portuguese defeated the French to take Rio de Janeiro. They also took over several British and Dutch outposts, eventually becoming one of the largest territories in the world. Gold was discovered in Brazil during the beginning of the 18th century, which brought many European immigrants to the area. In 1822, Brazil declared independence from Portugal. It was then ruled by various Brazilian emperors until in 1889 it was finally declared a republic.

National Flag

The main color on the Brazilian flag is green, which represents the forests, the yellow represents gold, and the blue globe represents the night sky. The words “Ordem e Progresso” means “Order and Progress” when translated to English. The flag of Brazil was adopted on November 19, 1889.

Geography

Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world and covers roughly half of South America. It is bordered by 10 countries, as well as the Atlantic Ocean. The landscape of Brazil is varied. It is known for its dense rain-forests, including the Amazon. But Brazil also has grasslands, pine forests, wetlands, and plateaus.

 

World Land Mass Ranking: 5th
Highest Mountain: Pico da Neblina, 9,823 ft
Longest River: Amazon, 6,575 km (4,250 miles)

 

Main Languages

Portuguese.

Brazil Population: 209.5 million (as of 2018)
Capital City: Brasilia
Capital City Population: 4.6 million (as of 2020)

Climate

The climate of Brazil varies from region to region. It is hot and dry in thein the arid interior, and more humid and sticky in the tropical rain-forests. The temperatures in Brazil rarely go below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Southern Brazil experiences four seasons, but most of Brazil only has two: a dry season and a wet season.

Key People

• Carmen Miranda
• Rubens Barrichello
• Oscar Niemeyer
• Pele

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  Cuisine

  The cuisine of Brazil is very diverse, and varies from region to region. It has been influenced by The Portuguese, as well as European, South American, African, and Asian countries. Root vegetables, including manioc and yams, and fruits including mango, açaí, guava, papaya, pineapple, orange, and passion fruit are common in Brazil. Feijoada is considered the national dish of Brazil. It is a black bean and pork stew. One of the most popular desserts in Brazil is Brigadeiro, which is a bite-size chocolate treat. Coffee is very popular in Brazil and is the national beverage.

  The picture is a picture of Bobó de Camarão, a Brazilian dish.

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  Sports

  Sports are very popular in Brazil, and the people of Brazil are passionate when it comes to sports, whether they are playing or cheering from the sidelines. The most popular sport in Brazil is definitely football. The Brazil National Football team has won the FIFA World Cup five (Qty 5) times. Brazil is also the only country that has succeeded in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. Other sports that are popular in Brazil include tennis, volleyball, mixed martial arts, rugby, and footvolley.

  The picture is a picture of the Brazilian football team at the 2014 World Cup.

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  Culture

  Over the years different cultural and ethnic mixing has occurred in Brazil, making the culture very diverse. The main religion in Brazil is Roman Catholicism, which makes up 65% of the population. An important part of Brazilian culture is Carnival, which is a festival held 46 days before Easter. Each year at Carnival, the festivities last a week. Brazilian culture also includes the unique painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, and music of the country. All of these aspects make up the exciting and unique culture of Brazil.

   

  The picture is a picture of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida.

   

  Brazil is a beautiful country with wonderful people.

   

  Download questions about the Brazil here: Brazil (answers are on this page)

  Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Brazil. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets

  For further reading and more info on the Brazil visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Brazil