Question

Which colonial empire was primarily responsible for the colonization of Brazil during the period between 1492 and 1650?

A) Spanish Empire
B) Portuguese Empire
C) British Empire
D) French Empire

Answer 1

The Portuguese Empire was responsible for colonizing Brazil between 1492 and 1650, starting with Pedro Cabral's claim in 1500 and following the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Portuguese Empire was primarily responsible for the colonization of Brazil during the period between 1492 and 1650. This began with the explorer Pedro Cabral claiming Brazil for Portugal in 1500. The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 played a critical role in defining the areas of Spanish and Portuguese influence, ensuring that Brazil would fall under Portuguese control. Unlike the Spanish colonies which benefitted from gold and silver, Brazil's economic foundation relied on the exportation of brazilwood, plantation agriculture, and cattle ranching. Despite this difference in economic resources, Brazil, similar to Spanish territories, saw the establishment of colonial bureaucracy and a social hierarchy where the senhores de engenho, or 'lords of the mill,' dominated due to their control over sugar plantations and mills. Furthermore, both empires faced the challenge of managing labor forces, which led to the importation of African slaves, contributing to the blended cultures that emerged in these colonies.