Journeys to the Federative Republic of Brazil; Review & Analysis

Book excerpt: Unlike other Central or South American countries, Brazil is the only country that speaks Portuguese. In the late 15th century, Spain and Portugal divided the world and signed the Treaty of Tordesillas to formalize their intended world conquests. This was the Age of Discovery, when men of resolve and courage sought fame and fortune by conquering the rest of the world. Portuguese sailors came to Brazil, claiming the territory for their monarch. Soon, other European powers realized the importance of this land and sought to remove the Portuguese. An example was the Dutch who conquered a part of Brazil for a few short years. However, the Portuguese soon returned and the Dutch were forced to relinquish their territory. While the history of Brazil is filled with European powers vying to control this territory, its effect on the indigenous population was a disaster. Millions of Indigenous died from diseases for which they had no immunity as from slavery. When the Indigenous men and women in Brazil died as a result of the harsh working conditions, millions of slaves were imported from Africa. Today, Brazil's population has many of their descendants, forcing the country to reckon with their needs and cultural heritage. This book describes the story of Brazil, from what is known of its Indigenous population, their decimation, and their demand for more than survival in this land. But Brazilian politics is not for the fainthearted, as leaders, both named and elected, trampled on the Indigenous communities to forcefully gain economically. While Brazil is indeed a South American powerhouse, its favelas, crime, and illicit drugs, are a stark reminder that a sizeable proportion of the needy requires attention. This book is also the story of the Jewish population who sought refuge in Brazil in the past. Sephardic Jews came to this country seeking refuge from the anti-Semitic Portuguese who had expelled them from Iberia in 1497. The Portuguese came with the Inquisition and imposed harsh sentences on Jews who lived outwardly as Catholics but inwardly as Jews. They briefly found a safe haven in Dutch Brazil, but as soon as the Portuguese returned, they were forced to flee. Today, many thousands of Jews have helped make Brazil the success it is. But their story is one of travail, loss, and hard-won challenges.