More Cultural Information.

  

The history of Brazil has a long history. The first people of Brazil were Native Americans. Some of the earliest human remains found in the Americas, Luzia Woman, were found in the area of Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais and provide evidence of human habitation going back at least 11,000 years. The earliest pottery ever found in the Western Hemisphere was excavated in the Amazon basin of Brazil and radiocarbon dated to 8,000 years ago (6000 BC). The pottery was found near Santarém and provides evidence that the tropical forest region supported a complex prehistoric culture. The Marajoara culture flourished on Marajó in the Amazon delta from AD 400 to 1400, developing sophisticated pottery, social stratification, large populations, mound building, and complex social formations such as chiefdoms. By the time of the Portuguese arrival, the territory of current day Brazil had an estimated indigenous population of 7 million people. They were mostly semi-nomadic human beings. They did hunting, fishing, gathering, and migrant agriculture. The Native American people of Brazil were made of large indigenous ethnic groups like the Tupis, Guaranis, Ges, and Arawaks.  The Tupí people were subdivided into the Tupiniquins and Tupinambás, and there were also many subdivisions of the other groups. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the boundaries between these groups and their subgroups were marked by wars that arose from differences in culture, language and moral beliefs. These wars also involved large-scale military actions on land and water. 

 

Following the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas, the land now called Brazil was claimed for the Portuguese Empire on April 22, 1500, with the arrival of the Portuguese fleet commanded by Pedro Álvares Cabral. The Portuguese encountered indigenous peoples divided into several ethnic societies, most of whom spoke the languages of the Tupi–Guaraní family and fought among themselves. Though the first settlement was founded in 1532, colonization effectively began in 1534, when King John III of Portugal divided the territory into the fifteen private and autonomous Captaincy Colonies of Brazil. The colonies struggled, so the Portuguese King restructured them into the Governorate General of Brazil in the city of Salvador. It was the capital of a single and centralized Portuguese colony in South America. During the first two centuries of colonization, indigenous and European groups had war, formed alliances, etc. in order to gain advantages against each other. Nearly five million enslaved Africans were imported to Brazil during the Atlantic slave trade, more than any other country. Cane sugar was Brazil's most important export by the mid 1500's. Many African slaves came from Angola and Mozambique.  By the end of the 17th century, sugarcane exports began to decline and the discovery of gold by Bandeirantes in the 1690s would become the new backbone of the colony's economy, fostering a Brazilian Gold Rush which attracted thousands of new settlers to Brazil from Portugal and all Portuguese colonies around the world. This increased level of immigration in turn caused some conflicts between newcomers and old settlers. Portugal wanted to control other areas. They fought the French and the Dutch over South American lands. Portugal fought slave rebellions from the Quilombo of the Palmeres and the movements for independence or autonomy. By the early 1800's, Brazil was a Kingdom. The Brazilians and Portuguese fought. Prince Pedro was declared the first Emperor of Brazil, with the royal title of Dom Pedro I, resulting in the founding of the Empire of Brazil by October 1822. The Brazilian War of Independence existed, and Portugal recognized Brazilian independence by August 29, 1825. Pedro II was the Emperor of Brazil from 1831 to 1889. Slavery was abolished by 1888. The military dominated Brazil for years. By the 20th century, Brazil has debates among conservative and more liberal factions. Joao Goulart was deposed in April 1964 by a coup. A military dictatorship ruled in Brazil. 

Rousseff was impeached by the Brazilian Congress in 2016, halfway into her second term, and replaced by her Vice-president Michel Temer, who assumed full presidential powers after Rousseff's impeachment was accepted on August 31. Large street protests for and against her took place during the impeachment process. The charges against her were fueled by political and economic crises along with evidence of involvement with politicians (from all the primary political parties) in several bribery and tax evasion schemes. In 2017, the Supreme Court requested the investigation of 71 Brazilian lawmakers and nine ministers of President Michel Temer's cabinet who were allegedly linked to the Petrobras corruption scandal. President Temer himself was also accused of corruption. According to a 2018 poll, 62% of the population said that corruption was Brazil's biggest problem. In a 2022 evaluation of whether government officials in the legislative branch use public office for personal gain, Brazil held the penultimate position (139 out of 140 countries).

In the fiercely disputed 2018 elections, the controversial conservative candidate Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party (PSL) was elected president, winning in the second round Fernando Haddad, of the Workers Party (PT), with the support of 55.13% of the valid votes. In the early 2020s, Brazil became one of the hardest hit countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving the second-highest death toll worldwide after the United States. Experts have largely blamed the situation on the leadership of President Bolsonaro, who throughout the pandemic has repeatedly downplayed the threat of COVID-19 and dissuaded states and cities from enforcing quarantine measures, prioritizing the nation's economy. Now, Lula da Silva is the new President of Brazil in 2023. 

 

By the 1970's, soulful music and disco were prominent in America. Motown artist Edwin Starr had the song War which is an anti-war protest song. By the 1970's, political songs were still very powerfully shown by many artists. Diana Ross in 1970 had her first number single as a solo artist with the remake of A'int No Mountain High Enough (which was recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell). From the year of 1970 and onward, The Jackson Five had hit after hit. I'll Be There was their famous song taht was their fourth U.S. Number one single in a row. In the UK by December 1970, Smokey Robinson re-released his 1967 song of The Tears of a Clown. Dawn had the 1971 song of Knock Three Times. King Floyd's Groove was very popular. Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote the song of Just My Imagination (which was shown by 1971). That song was one of the best songs of The Temptations. By April of 1971, Marvin Gaye released What's Going on, which would be one of his best albums. The album called about life, racism, ecology, war, and other important issues in urban communities. What's Going On is a socially conscious anthem to this day. Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose has the song of Treat Her Like a Lady. Jean Knight had the single of Mr. Big Stuff. A'int No Sunshine from Bill Withers was a song about romance and reflections. Isaac Hayes' theme from Shaft won an award. By 1972, Al Green had the classic song of Let's Stay Together. Many people know of the Dramatics having the single of In The Rain. Roberta Flack increased her career with the song of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (which came from a 1957 folk song of the same name). By 1972, the anthem of love called Oh Girl from The Chi-Lites shook up the world. The group was from Chicago. The soul and gospel group The Staple Singles had the single called I'll Take You There. Bill Withers had the classic song of Lean on Me. The August 1972 Wattstax concert at Los Angeles Coliseum was to remember the 1965 Watts rebellion and a celebration of black culture. It was a sold-out concert and was made into a double album and film. It has The Staple Singers, Albert King, and other people. Luther Ingram had the song o If Loving You is Wong, I Don't Want to be Right in August of 1972. Michael Jackson had the solo hit of Ben. The O'Jays had Back Stabbers song. Leon Huff and Kenny Gamble from Philadelphia worked with many artists making hits too. 

The 1970's had legendary artists like Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Curtis Mayfield, the Temptations (with Papa Was a Roling Stone), Billy Paul, The Stylistics, The Dramatics, etc. Stevie Wonder's Superstition song from the 1970's was about Wonder having creative control. By 1973, Talking Book was already a classic, and Stevie Wonder would make some of the best music in history throughout the 1970's. Stevie Wonder would use keyboards and synthesizers that would influence the sounds of the 1980's with Zapp, etc. Killing Me Softly With Song from Roberta Flack was her number 1 single with powerful lyrics and sounds. To Catch A Fire was an album done by Bob Marley and the Wailers which helped to expand reggae music internationally. By the time of 1973, we see groups and artists like War, Billy Preston, Marvin Gaye (with his song of Let's Get It On), The Isley Brothers (with the song of Who's That Lady), Glady Knights and the Pips (with the song of Midnight Train to Georgia), Eddie Kendricks' Keep on Truckin', etc. Also, by this time disco became modernized. Roots from disco came from the 1960's from soul/R&B music and other influences like from other producers. Dancing songs like Dancing Machine from the Jackson Five (from April 1974) existed too. The Stylistics had the song of You Make Me Feel Brand New, and the song of Hollywood Swinging. Tell Me Something Good was made by Rufus by 1974.  The Three Degrees had their hit of Sound of Philadelphia. The Three Degrees made music since the early 1960's. Carl Douglas's Kung Fu Fighting in November 1974 caused an explosion of disco culture. Carl Douglas is from Kingston, Jamaica.

Love Rollercoaster was released by Ohio Players in 1975. Lady Marmalade was a song made by Labelle filled with innuendo in French. By this time, disco and funk exploded with artists like Earth, Wind, and Fire with Shining Star. Many people in KC and the Sunshine Band didn't like to be called a disco group. They wanted to be known in R&B, but Get Down Tonight had disco sounds. The original Fight the Power was released by Isley Brothers in 1975. Songs from War, Dian Ross, Hot Chocolate, and Donna Summer existed. In 1976, Donna Summer was called the Queen of Disco. Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte inspired many new sounds found in disco music too. Boogie Fever was released by The Sylvers. The Manhattans' Kiss and Say Goodbye, George Benson, Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, Lou Rawls, The Spinners' The Rubberband Man, and other artists shined. Stevie Wonder released the Songs in the Key of Life by December 1976. It was another classic with hits like I Wish and Sir Duke. Rose Royce with Car Wash was another classic song. Music from Thelma Houston (with Don't Leave Me This Way), Marvin Gaye's Got to Give It Up, and Donna Summer's I Feel Love defined a lot of how music is shown today. The Emotions' Best of My Love is a huge song. The Emotions are from Chicago. The song was co-written and produced by fellow Chicagoan and Earth, Wind, and Fire founder Maurice White. Brothers Johnson, Heatwave, Commodores, and the music from the movie Saturday Night Fever made disco more powerful. By 1978, The Bees Grees had Night Fever and Stayin' Alive. The O'Jays in 178 had the classic song of Used to Be My Girl. Donna Summer had MacArthur Park. Le Freak from Chic was decades ahead of its time. It was released in December 1978. Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards along with people were part of the supergroup of Chic. By 1979, R&B and disco were changing. YMCA was shown by The Village People in February 1979. I will Survive was shown by singer Gloria Gaynor. Disco singer Amii Stewart's Knock on Wood was shown in 1979. Shake Your Groove Thing was shown by Peaches and Herb. Ring My Bell was released by Anita Ward. Rapper's Delight from Sugarhill Gang was shown by September 1979. Michael Jackson released Off the Wall in 1979. It was very much influential in music as it was probably his best soulful album. Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough was a classic. Quincy Jones worked with Michael Jackson in the album. Donna Summer worked with Barbara Streisand on the song No More Tears. Prince had the song of I Wanna Be Your Lover. Disco had a backlash from music snobbish people and outright racists. The haters of disco viewed disco as a distraction. Yet, disco was expressed by many people, and many real messages are found in disco like I will Survive by Gloria Gaynor. Also, racism (including anti-LBGTQ+ sentiments) was definitely a motivation for much of the hate of disco too. In Chicago, racists and extremists blew up disco and R&B records in a stadium (as part of the hate disco movement). This caused disco to be heavily suppressed in the 1980's except in rare situations. Yet, contemporary R&B, disco, and soul music persist to this day in 2023. 

By Timothy