1

Brazil

Introduction

This lesson will introduce you to Brazil. You will
learn all about the region’s geography, history, and culture.

Section 1: Chapter Atlas

Section 2: History

Section 3: Today

Lesson Introduction

2

Section 1: Atlas

3

Brazil

Brazil’s varied landforms contain a wealth of natural resources.

The Amazon rain forest thrives in Brazil’s climate.

Although most Brazilians live in cities along the
coast, there has been steady migration inland.

Chapter Atlas

Key Ideas

4

Brazil

•

Amazon basin the land drained by the Amazon River

•

savanna park-like landscape of
grasslands with scattered trees that can survive dry spells, found in tropical areas with dry seasons

Chapter Atlas

Key Terms

5

Brazil

•

canopy the upper leaves of the rain forest trees

•

favela Brazilian slum

Chapter Atlas

Key Terms

6

Brazil

•

Amazon River

•

Guiana Highlands

•

Pantanal

•

Cerrado

Chapter Atlas

What are some important places to know in Brazil?

7

Brazil

Chapter Atlas

Brazil: Outline Map

8

Brazil

Chapter Atlas

How would you describe Brazil?

9

Brazil

Chapter Atlas

Which countries in Caribbean South America

share a border with Brazil?

10

Brazil

Brazil covers nearly half of South America.

Brazil’s best-known physical feature is the
Amazon River.

Every second, the river empties 58 billion
gallons of water from the Amazon basin into
the Atlantic Ocean.

Chapter Atlas

Brazil: Physical Features

11

Brazil

To the north and south of the Amazon basin are highlands.

Lowland regions stretch for thousands of miles along Brazil’s Atlantic coast.

Chapter Atlas

Brazil: Physical Features

12

Brazil

Most of Brazil is humid and rainy.

The southern coast is cooler than the rest of the country.

Elevation plays a role in temperature, as higher elevations are cooler.

Chapter Atlas

Brazil: Climate

13

Brazil

In the rich soil of southern and southeastern coastal areas, farmers grow a wide variety of crops.

Forests cover more than half the country and produce rubber, palm oil, and timber.

With all of the water in Brazil, many hydroelectric dams
have been built or planned.

Chapter Atlas

Brazil: Land Use and Resources

14

Brazil

Chapter Atlas

Why have attempts to turn forest into farmland

failed?

15

Brazil

The rain forest ecosystem of the Amazon lowlands
teems with life.

It shelters the largest number of plant species in the
world.

In the canopy, fruit that hangs in the trees attracts
many types of animals.

Chapter Atlas

The Brazilian Rainforest

16

Brazil

Brazil has a large and diverse population.

The centers of Brazilian cities contain the
businesses and wealthy neighborhoods.

The outskirts are filled with favelas, or slums.

Brazil has one of the widest gaps between rich and poor in the world.

Chapter Atlas

Brazil: People

17

Brazil

Who should benefit from a country’s
resources?

Chapter Atlas

18

Open Ended

What would be some characteristics of a strong, stable government?

Type response here

19

Section 2: History

20

Brazil

Portuguese colonization changed the physical and human geography of Brazil.

The Portuguese introduced an export economy based on the labor of enslaved Africans.

For most of Brazil’s history, its economy has
experienced a series of export booms and busts.

History

Key Ideas

21

Brazil

•

brazilwood wood that produces red dye

•

export economy economy based on exports

•

boom and bust cycle a period of strong
economic growth followed by a period of sharp decline

History

Key Terms

22

Brazil

•

abolitionist someone who wanted to end slavery

•

coup sudden violent overthrow of the government, often by the military

History

Key Terms

23

Brazil

In A.D. 1550, Portuguese explorers first set foot
on the land we know today as Brazil.

The Portuguese first established trading posts on the northeast coast.

They forced the natives to work on sugar cane plantations, and many either fled or died from disease.

History

Land Claims

24

Brazil

To replace the Native Americans, the
Portuguese brought Africans to work as slaves.

Africans worked on plantations and in mines to produce goods for export.

It is estimated that 3 to 4 million Africans ended
up in Brazil.

History

Africans Arrive

25

Brazil

History

How might soil have influenced the kind of

economy that Portugal established in Brazil?

26

Open Ended

What would be some impacts that slavery would have on a region?

Type response here

27

Brazil

To escape the French Emperor Napoleon’s invasion, the Portuguese royal family escaped to Brazil.

When the royal family returned in 1821, Pedro I, the son
of the Portuguese king, stayed in Brazil.

In 1822 Pedro I declared Brazil independent and named
himself emperor.

History

An Independent Brazil

28

Brazil

In the late 1800s, coffee brought wealth to Brazil’s
planters.

The planters became politically powerful and challenged the government.

Under pressure from abolitionists and republicans, the old Brazil was swept away.

History

The New Brazil

29

Brazil

In 1888, all the slaves were freed.

The military staged a coup, and the government was swept away.

The new leaders drew up a constitution.

History

Freedom and Republic

30

Brazil

Throughout the 1900s, the republic of Brazil
faced many challenges.

In 1930, Getulio Vargas overthrew the
government.

In 1990, democracy was restored in Brazil.

History

The New Republic

31

Brazil

Today

What are some environmental problems in your

community?

32

Section 3: Today

33

Brazil

A variety of ethnic groups have contributed to Brazil’s rich culture.

Brazil’s diversified economy depends on
manufacturing, agriculture, and trade.

Brazil is struggling with environmental problems
such as pollution and rain forest destruction.

Today

Key Ideas

34

Brazil

•

ethanol a fuel that can be made from sugar cane

•

urban planning the planning of a city

Today

Key Terms

35

Brazil

•

market economy economy in which
individual consumers and producers make all economic decisions

•

social services programs designed to help the poor

Today

Key Terms

36

Brazil

Carnival releases the energy and creativity of Brazilian culture.

Africans, people of European descent, and
Native Americans all live throughout Brazil.

Roman Catholicism is the most popular religion
in Brazil, but other religions are also practiced.

Today

A Rich Culture

37

Brazil

Like all modern countries, Brazil is trying to
deal with urban pollution.

Vehicle exhaust and factories spew pollutants into the air and water.

The main environmental issue in Brazil
involves the rain forest.

Today

Environmental Issues

38

Brazil

Rain forest trees absorb carbon dioxide and
produce oxygen for all living things to breathe.

Humans are cutting down rain forests for lumber and to clear land for farming.

Brazil’s government is taking steps to defend the rain forest from too much development.

Today

Environmental Issues

39

Brazil

Brazil is continuously searching for solutions to its
environmental problems.

Ethanol, a fuel that can be made from sugar cane, us used in cars and is reducing pollution and dependence on oil.

Careful urban planning in Curitiba has shown that city planning can reduce car traffic and trash.

Today

Environmental Issues

40

Brazil

What is the city of Curitiba doing to protect wetlands?

How is Curitiba dealing with the trash that a large population produces?

How is Curitiba dealing with air pollution from too
many cars?

Today

Describe a problems that

Curitiba is addressing

41

Brazil

Brazil has a market economy in which prices of
goods are set by demand, not the government.

Brazil relies on mineral resources, oil, natural gas,
timber, rubber, diamonds, and gold.

Vehicle manufacturing is important in southeast
Brazil, and farming of coffee, sugar, and soybeans is also a large part of the economy.

Today

A Growing Economy

42

Brazil

The structure of Brazil’s government is
similar to that of the United States.

Brazil’s government has an executive brand, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch.

Today

Brazil: Government

43

Brazil

Despite Brazil’s growing economy, poverty
remains widespread.

A wide gap exists between the poverty of the north and the wealth of the south.

Recently discovered oil brings hope that oil
wealth could be used to fund social services.

Today

Balancing Growth and Social Needs

Brazil Overview

Section 1: Atlas

Section 2: History

Section 3: Today

Similar Resources on Wayground

Popular Resources on Wayground

Discover more resources for Geography