HIST 533

History of Brazil

John Chasteen

History 533, HISTORY OF BRAZIL, provides a basic historical introduction to the country. You'll learn how Brazil was colonized by tiny Portugal in the 1500s, and how it expanded to its current size by 1800. In the process, you'll get a feeling for the country's marked regional diversity and for certain values and hierarchies deeply etched in Brazilian life. Following independence in 1822, Brazil was ruled by an emperor in Rio de Janeiro for most of the 1800s, the only durable monarchy in the western hemisphere. What held this sprawling empire together while the former possessions of Spain fragmented into twenty separate republics? How did the ruling elite maintain its control over the poor and enslaved Brazilians who so outnumbered them? Finally, how did Brazil "modernize" in the twentieth century, and where is this burgeoning and dynamic country headed now? An exploration of Brazilian race relations is the central focus of the course, which is recommended for upper-division undergraduates. There are several short papers and numerous small quizzes and a final exam, but no midterm. (Not intended for graduate students with prior background in Latin American studies.)