Brazil

Located in Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean with the total area at 8,511,965 sq km, is Brazil. Throughout time it has had a rich history that has not only effected but influenced its cultural dress. This Paper will cover Brazil's has a hot climate, diverse culture dew to slavery, and interestingly unique dress.

As a result of its location, its climate is a tropical one, with flat rolling low lands, plains, and some hills. Some of the natural recourses of the area include: bauxite, gold, iron, nickel, ore, petroleum, phosphates, platinum, timber, tin, and uranium. In July 1994 (the latest date recorded) Brazil's population was at 158,739,257, the population growth rate was 1.28%, birth rate was 21.48 births per 1,000, and the infant mortality rate was: 59.5 deaths/1,000 live births. Invent mortalities have decreased and the population it growing. Because of the geography and climate of Brazil the people are mainly petite (females more than the men) and athletic shaped. At one time being hefty was a sign of social and economic standing, hence, the upper class was bigger than the working class.

Before April 22, 1500 the indigenous Brazilian population was Indian pre- Columbian invasion. Expansion and development started slow but because of the great demand for sugar in Europe, it increased. The indigenous people were made slaves and when the demand grew even greater, slaves were brought in from Africa. In this period Quilombos (slaves who escaped from the plantations) built small towns in remote areas, where hundreds of people lived, raised families, grew crops, and fought to keep their independence. Consequently, the former owners called in the Paulistas and Bandeirantes (two Brazilians work forces from south Brazil) that soon destroyed the Quilombos, in a long siege. In 1887 Pedro II (the second and last emperor) abolished of slavery in South Brazil. During World War I Vargas led a revolt that overthrew the present government and over the next 15 years, he massively changed the entire government system. A new capital was established in 1960 which was called Brasilia. In 1964 the military overthrew President Joao Goulart, and for the next 21 years, Brazil was ruled by a succession of military descendants. The country's economy prospered, although, the military suspended constitutional guarantees and imposed press censorship. In October 1988 Brazil got a new constitution and a year later Fernando Collor de Mello was elected president. Brazil's social structure is not a complex one, the rich rule and the poor do not. Although government officials are elected the poor rarely vote.

Since the 16th century Brazil's main religion has been predominantly Roman Catholicism (Christianity). This religion was introduced by the Portuguese invaders. Brazil has the largest number of baptized Roman Catholics on Earth. 80% of Brazilians claim to be Catholics and have been baptized, however, only about 20% of the population of Brazil actually attends Mass on a regular basis. The second most popular religion in Brazil is Candomblй which has millions of followers, mainly Afro-Brazilians. This religion came from the African slaves. They would summon their gods, called Orixas, Voduns or Inkices with chants and dances they had brought from Africa. They were persecuted throughout most of Brazilian history, mainly because they were believed to satanic. However, the Brazilian government has since legalized it on the grounds separation between the State and the Church.

Language is one of the strongest elements of Brazil's national unity. Portuguese,

the official language, is spoken by nearly one hundred percent of the population. The

only exceptions are some Amerindian groups and immigrants, primarily from South

Korea and Japan, who have not learned to speak Portuguese.

The written language, which is uniform all over Brazil, follows national rules of

spelling and accentuation that are revised from time to time for simplification. Written

Brazilian Portuguese differs significantly !Tomthe spoken language and is used correctly

by only a small, educated minority of the population. The rules of Portuguese are

complex and allow more flexibility than Spanish or English. Many foreigners who speak

Portuguese fluently have problems writing it correctly.

Because of Brazil's size, self-sufficiency, and relative isolation, foreign languages

are not widely spoken. English is often studied in school and has replaced French as the

principal second language among the educated people. Because Spanish is similar to

Portuguese, most Brazilians can understand it and many can communicate in it, although

Spanish speakers usually have a difficult time understanding spoken Portuguese.

About eighty percent of Brazil's adult population can read and write. However,

educational levels vary widely throughout the nation. In general, education levels are the

highest in southern Brazil and the lowest in the Northeast.

Brazil has a free public elementary school system for children !Tomages seven

through fourteen. Many children leave school after completing the required seven years

and begin work

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