Name_________________________________ Class_____________________ Date_____________

South America
Lesson 2

MAIN IDEAS
1. Brazil’s history has been affected by Brazilian Indians, Portuguese settlers,
and enslaved Africans.
2. Brazil’s society reflects a mix of people and cultures.
3. Brazil today is experiencing population growth in its cities and new
development in rain forest areas.

Key Terms and Places

São Paulo  largest urban area in South America, located in southeastern Brazil
megacity  giant urban area that includes surrounding cities and suburbs
Rio de Janeiro  Brazil’s second-largest city, located northeast of São Paulo
favelas  huge slums
Brasília  capital of Brazil
Manaus  major
port and industrial city, located 1,000 miles from the mouth of
the Amazon River

Lesson Summary
HISTORY
Brazil is the largest country in South America. It Who were the first people
has a population of more than 211 million to live in Brazil?
people. The first people in Brazil were American __________________________
Indians who arrived in the region thousands of
years ago.
In 1500 Portuguese explorers became the first
Europeans to find Brazil. Colonists brought
Africans to the region to work as slaves on sugar
plantations. These plantations helped make
Portugal rich.
Gold and precious gems were discovered in the What discovery brought
late 1600s and early 1700s in the southeast. The people to Brazil from all
over the world?
resulting mining boom drew people to Brazil
from all over the world. Brazil became a major __________________________

coffee producer in the late 1800s. Brazil gained

independence from Portugal without a fight in
1822. Since the end of Portuguese rule, Brazil has
been governed by both dictators and elected

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Lesson 2, continued

officials. Today Brazil has an elected president

and legislature.

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Nearly 40 percent of Brazil’s people are of mixed What percentage of Brazil’s
African and European descent. Brazil also has people are of mixed African
and European descent?
the largest Japanese population outside of Japan.
Brazil’s official language is Portuguese. __________________________

Brazil has the world’s largest population of

Roman Catholics. Some Brazilians practice
What is macumba?
macumba, a religion that combines beliefs and
practices of African and Indian religions with __________________________

Christianity. __________________________
Brazilians celebrate Carnival, a celebration __________________________
that mixes traditions from Africa, Brazil, and __________________________
Europe. __________________________

BRAZIL TODAY
Brazil can be divided into four regions. The
southeast is the most populated. About What is Brazil’s second-
21 million people live in and around the city of largest city?
São Paulo. São Paulo is considered a megacity, __________________________
or giant urban area that includes surrounding
cities and suburbs. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s former
capital and second-largest city, is also located in
the southeast. The southeast has a good
economy, but it also has poverty. Many people
live in city slums, or favelas.
The northeast is Brazil’s poorest region.
Circle the word describing
Drought has made farming difficult. However, an important industry in
many tourists are attracted to the region. northeast Brazil.

Tourism is an important industry.

The interior region is a frontier land, with
much potential for farming. The capital of What are the four regions
Brazil, Brasília, was built there in the mid-1950s. of Brazil?

The Amazon region covers the northern part __________________________

of Brazil. Manaus is a major port and industrial __________________________
city 1,000 miles from the mouth of the Amazon __________________________
River. The Amazon rain forest is a valuable
resource to people who live and work there, but

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deforestation threatens the wildlife and Brazilian

Indians living there.

CHALLENGE ACTIVITY
Critical Thinking: Draw Conclusions  Why do
most Brazilians live in the southeast? Write a
paragraph to explain your answer.

Brasília Carnival favelas

macumba Manaus megacity
Rio de Janeiro São Paulo

DIRECTIONS  Read each sentence and choose the correct term from
the word bank to replace the underlined phrase. Write the term in
the space provided and then define the term in your own words.
1. This city was built in the interior region in the mid-1950s. _________________

Your definition:_____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
2. These areas within Brazil’s southeastern cities are marked by poverty.

__________________________________________________________________
Your definition:_____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
3. This cultural event mixes traditions from Africa, Brazil, and Europe.

__________________________________________________________________

Your definition:_____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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4. Popular with tourists, this major port city was once Brazil’s capital.

__________________________________________________________________

Your definition:_____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________
5. São Paulo is a giant city. _____________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Your definition:_____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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