Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Atlantic South America
Section 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 the largest urban area in South America, located in southeastern Brazil
megacity a 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 the capital of Brazil
Manaus a major port and industrial city, located 1,000 miles from the mouth of the
Amazon River
Section Summary
HISTORY
Brazil is the largest country in South America. It
has a population of more than 186 million 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
late 1600s and early 1700s in the southeast, and a
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 officials. Today Brazil has an
elected president and legislature.
Who were the first people
to live in Brazil?
_______________________
_______________________
What discovery brought
people to Brazil from all
over the world?
_______________________
_______________________
Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
82
Guided Reading Workbook
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 2, continued
PEOPLE AND CULTURE
Nearly 40 percent of Brazil’s people are of mixed
African and European descent. Brazil also has 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 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.
Immigrant influences can also be found in Brazilian
foods.
BRAZIL TODAY
Brazil can be divided into four regions. The
southeast is the most populated. More than
17 million people live in the city of São Paulo,
which is considered a megacity, or giant urban area
that includes surrounding cities and suburbs. Rio de
Janeiro is Brazil’s second-largest city, 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. Drought
has made farming difficult. However, many tourists
are attracted to the region. Tourism is an important
industry.
The interior region is a frontier land, with much
potential for farming. The capital of Brasil,
Brasília, is located there.
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 deforestation
threatens the wildlife and Brazilian Indians living
there.
What percentage of Brazil’s
people are of mixed African
and European descent?
_______________________
What is macumba?
_______________________
_______________________
What is Brazil’s secondlargest city?
_______________________
Circle the word describing
an important industry in
northeast Brazil.
What are the four regions
of Brazil?
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
CHALLENGE ACTIVITY
Critical Thinking: Drawing Inferences Why do
most Brazilians live in the southeast? Turn to a
partner and give reasons for your answer.
Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
83
Guided Reading Workbook
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Section 2, continued
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. Although this city was designed for only 500,000 people, more than 2 million
live there. ________________________________________________________
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: ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
4. Popular with tourists, this major port city was once Brazil’s capital.
_________________________________________________________________
Your definition: ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
5. São Paulo is a giant city. ____________________________________________
Your definition: ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Original content © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
84
Guided Reading Workbook