Since thousands of years before Christ, the Amazon basin and the coastal regions of Brazil were inhabited by Indians . There were hundreds of Indians in a few larger ethnic groups are divided, the main among the Guarani , the Tupi and Ge .
In 1500 the Portuguese navigator demanded Pedro Álvares Cabral in today Porto Seguro Brazil's shores for the Portuguese Crown. From 1530 colonization took off and were in Bahia and Pernambuco founded the first sugar plantations. With the advent of the Marquis of Pombal in the 18th century, the Portuguese authority was strengthened. Thus, the Portuguese in Brazil became the official language (previously indigenous languages such as Tupi and Guarani still widespread and have even spoken by many European settlers) and were the Jesuits who were protecting the Indians banished.
From 1630 to 1654 the Brazilian Portuguese possessions of the Crown were partially annexed by the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands . The different governors of the colony tried to lure with moderate success. Immigrants as much as possible to the area Eventually were Dutch in 1654 expelled from the area by the Portuguese.
In 1807, the Portuguese royal family fled under the leadership of the future King John VI , for the army of Napoleon to Brazil, which was then still in Portugal. From that moment on Rio de facto capital of the Portuguese empire. Because Portugal, which previously had the monopoly of trade in Brazil, was occupied by the French and Brazilian ports to be opened to foreign (English) ships to avoid. Isolation In this period, Rio de Janeiro became a power center of importance, the National Library was established and the first Brazilian universities were founded.
When João returned to Portugal in 1821, his son was Peter if it rains in Brazil. This called for the independence in 1822 and left crowns himself Emperor Peter I. Three years later, the independence was recognized by Portugal. In 1831 Emperor Peter I was succeeded by Peter II .
In 1889 the new elite of coffee barons down the monarchy and set brought a federal republic in. Until 1930, the Brazilian government has been dominated by rural landowners. In the 30s, however, was a by Getúlio Vargas led military government made a start with industrialization. After the resignation of Vargas in 1945 began a process of democratization, which, however, came in 1964 abruptly ended when the military seized power again.
In 1984, a gradual transition to a civilian government took place, leaving more space was a further development of a democratic tradition in Brazil.