Oh, how the mighty have fallen. A few years ago, Brazil was the darling of the BRICS countries: host of the World Cup and Olympics, 7% annual growth, lifting millions out of poverty...  now, inflation if up, growth is not just down but negative, joblessness is on the rise, the government is barely functioning, and people are questioning whether Brazil can manage the Olympics.How did it all go so wrong so fast? It's a complex question with a complex answer, and part of the answer has been brewing for longer than you might think.

BCHP 009 - Scandal a go-go (Current Events)

The Brazil Culture and History Podcast - theres more to Brazil than beaches and rainforests!

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

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Today we’re going to talk about Pedro I’s successor, his son, Pedro II. He will rule the Empire of Brazil for 58 years, until its demise in 1889—making him one of the longer ruling monarchs in all of history. e will guide Brazil through a series of revolts to prosperity then through a devastating war and beyond. Like many of his peers in this group, he became a monarch young, at age 5.

Photos

Portrait of Teresa Cristina. c1843.


Teresa Cristina at age 55, 29 March 1877
















Map of the conjunction of Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina and the contested territories at the time of the Paraguayan War.


















Leopoldina, Pedro II, Teresa Cristina (around age 41) and Isabel, c. 1863
















Sources
Brazil: Five Centuries of Change by Thomas Skidmore
Brasil: Uma Biografia by Lilia Moritz Schwarcz and Heloisa Murgel Starling

BCHP 012 - Forging an American Empire (Quick History #7)

A brief update on the on-going corruption investigations and current political situation in Brazil. Thousands, sometimes millions of people have protested against (in some combination): corruption, the currently-in-power Workers’ Party, President Rousseff, and ex-President Lula.There have been counter-protests, but in general they have been smaller as the Workers’ Party’s support has plummeted as a result of the scandal. Impeachment seems imminent.
See the full episode notes here: http://brazilcultureandhistory.com/bchp-011-lava-jato-2/

BCHP 011 - Lava Jato #2

In this episode we explore the period from 1808 to 1831: how Brazil fared with the royal family in residence, the oblique path it took to independence, and the turbulent rule of its first emperor, Dom Pedro I.For all their faults, without the royal family's presence, Brazil could not have made the first steps toward economic independence so quickly nor likely remained a single country. The other side of this is that their tenure in Brazil made independence a prolonged process instead of a clean break. Although that break would be accomplished with less bloodshed than others in the Americas. At the same time tensions over the form of the government, the role of the emperor, successions issues, and resistance to independence itself would force Brazil's firt leader to abdicate not one but two thrones.Who's Who?Maria I: (1734-1816) Called the Pious in Portugual and the Mad in Brazil. Mother of João VI. She ruled as Maria I until 1799 when she was forcefully retired due to mental instability.João VI:  (1767-1826) Prince Regent and later King João VI of the United Kingdoms of Portugual, Brazil, and the Algarves. The only European monarch to set set foot in let alone rule from a New World colony.Carlota Joaquina of Spain: (1775-1830) Wife of João VI and daughter of King Charles the IV of Spain.Pedro I: (1798-1834) Son of João VI and later Emperor of Brazil and King of Portugal.Maria Leopoldina: (1797-1826) Daughter of daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Francis II, Archduchess of Austria. First wife of Pedro I.Amélie de Leutchenberg: (1812-1873) - Second wife of Pedro I. Daughter of of General Eugène de Beauharnais and Princess Augusta of Bavaria.Isabella Maria: (1801-1876) Younger sister of Pedro I, João's designate as regent for his "legitimate successor".Miguel I: (1802-1866) Younger brother of Pedro I. Exiled for wanting to restore the absolute power of the monarchy.Maria II: (1819-1853) Maria da Gloria, daughter of Pedro I. Would become Queen of Portugal after her father's brief reign.

BCHP 010 - A Trans-Atlantic Game of Thrones (Quick History #6)

Wars and revolutions wrack the Americas and Europe. Colonies are becoming nations and monarchies are falling. And it's all because of the French. (Okay, not all, but a lot of the blame is theirs.) Brazil starts making tentative steps toward independence, but the revolts are interrupted when the royal family enacts plan B.Sources for this episode:1808, Laurentino GomesBrazil: Five Centuries of Change, Thomas E. SkidmoreBrazil: uma biografia, Lilia Moritz SchwartzA History of Portugal and the Portuguese Empire: From Beginnings to 1807, Volmes 1 & 2, A. R. DisneyIt's with a twinge of regret that after this episode we have to set aside A. R. Disney's excellent two volume history of Portugal and its empire. (Note the "to 1807" part of the title.) It has been a great resource for these first few history episodes!

BCHP 009 - Scandal a go-go (Current Events)

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