Brazil (Pharaonic Survival)

Empire of Brazil Império do Brasil (Portuguese) Imperio de Brasil (Spanish) Empire du Brésil (French)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto:  Independência ou Morte! Independence or Death!
Anthem:  Hino Nacional Brasileiro National Anthem of Brazil Royal anthem:  Hino da Independencia (Anthem of Idependence)
Capital		Brasília
Largest city		São Paulo Rio de Janeiro Brasília Fortaleza
Official languages		Portuguese Spanish French
Regional languages		21 Other Languages
Religion		92% Christianity 2% Islam 6% Others
Demonym		Brazilian
Government		Federal constitutional monarchy
-	Emperor	Rafael I
-	Prime Minister	Nikolas Ferreira
Legislature		National Congress
-	Upper house	Federal Senate
-	Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Establishment		Independence from Portugal
-	Declared	7 September 1822
-	Recognized	29 August 1825
-	Current constitution	1 January 1925
Area
-	Total	8,775,982 km2  3,388,426 sq mi
Population
-	estimate	25,250,389
GDP (PPP)		2048 estimate
-	Total	$ 12 Trillion
-	Per capita	$ 53,574
GDP (nominal)		2048 estimate
-	Total	$ 10 Trillion
-	Per capita	$ 62,287
Gini (2048)		27.5
HDI (2048)		0.902
Currency		Real (R$, BRL)
Time zone		UTC−2 to −5 (BRT) DST is not observed.
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		BR
Calling code		+55

Brazil (Portuguese: Brasil; Brazilian Portuguese: [bɾaˈziu̯] ^ⓘ), officially the Empire of Brazil (Portuguese: Império do Brasil^ⓘ), is the largest and easternmost country in South America and Latin America. It is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the seventh most populous; also, its capital is Brasília, and its most populous city is São Paulo. The federation is composed of the union of the 29 states and the Federal District. It is the only country in the Americas to have Portuguese as an official language. It is currently one of the most multicultural and ethnically diverse nations due to undergoing over a century of mass immigration from around the world.

Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil has a coastline of 8,549 kilometers (5,290 mi). It borders all other countries and territories in South America except Ecuador and Chile and covers roughly half of the continent's land area. Its Amazon basin includes a vast tropical forest, home to diverse wildlife, a variety of ecological systems, and extensive natural resources spanning numerous protected habitats. This unique environmental heritage positions Brazil at number one of 17 megadiverse countries, and is the subject of significant global interest, as environmental degradation through processes like deforestation has direct impacts on global issues like climate change and biodiversity loss.

The territory which would become known as Brazil was inhabited by numerous tribal nations prior to the landing in 1500 of explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral, who claimed the discovered land for the Portuguese Empire. Brazil remained a Portuguese colony until 1808 when the capital of the empire was transferred from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. In 1815, the colony was elevated to the rank of kingdom upon the formation of the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves. Independence was achieved in 1822 with the creation of the Empire of Brazil, a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system. The ratification of the first constitution in 1824 led to the formation of a bicameral legislature, now called the National Congress. Slavery was abolished in 1888. The country became a federal State in 1919 following a new constitution. Due to its rich culture and history, the country ranks thirteenth in the world by number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Brazil is a great power and a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Categorised as a developing country with a very high Human Development Index, Brazil is considered an advanced economy, having the fifth largest GDP in the world by nominal, and eighth by PPP measures, the largest in Latin America. As an upper-middle income economy by the World Bank and a newly industrialized country, Brazil has the largest share of global wealth in South America and is one of the world's major breadbaskets, being the largest producer of coffee for the last 150 years. Brazil is a founding member of the United Nations, the G20, BRICS, G4, Mercosul, Organization of American States, SHEMU, Organization of Ibero-American States and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries. Brazil is also an observer state of the Arab League.

Etymology

The word "Brazil" likely comes from the Portuguese word for brazilwood, a tree that once grew plentifully along the Brazilian coast. In Portuguese, brazilwood is called pau-brasil, with the word brasil commonly given the etymology "red like an ember", formed from brasa ("ember") and the suffix -il (from -iculum or -ilium). As brazilwood produces a deep red dye, it was highly valued by the European textile industry and was the earliest commercially exploited product from Brazil. Throughout the 16th century, massive amounts of brazilwood were harvested by indigenous peoples (mostly Tupi) along the Brazilian coast, who sold the timber to European traders (mostly Portuguese, but also French) in return for assorted European consumer goods.

The official Portuguese name of the land, in original Portuguese records, was the "Land of the Holy Cross" (Terra da Santa Cruz), but European sailors and merchants commonly called it the "Land of Brazil" (Terra do Brasil) because of the brazilwood trade. The popular appellation eclipsed and eventually supplanted the official Portuguese name. Some early sailors called it the "Land of Parrots".

In the Guaraní language, an official language of Paraguay, Brazil is called "Pindorama", meaning "land of the palm trees".

History

Pre-Cabraline era

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 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.

Around the time of the Portuguese arrival, the territory of current day Brazil had an estimated indigenous population of 7 million people, mostly semi-nomadic, who subsisted on hunting, fishing, gathering, and migrant agriculture. The population comprised several large indigenous ethnic groups (e.g., the Tupis, Guaranis, Gês, and Arawaks). The Tupi people were subdivided into the Tupiniquins and Tupinambás.

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, with cannibalistic rituals on prisoners of war. While heredity had some weight, leadership was a status more won over time than assigned in succession ceremonies and conventions. Slavery among the indigenous groups had a different meaning than it had for Europeans, since it originated from a diverse socioeconomic organization, in which asymmetries were translated into kinship relations.

Portuguese colonization

Following the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas, the land now called Brazil was claimed for the Portuguese Empire on 22 April 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 languages of the Tupi–Guarani 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 captaincies.

However, the decentralized and unorganized tendencies of the captaincies proved problematic, and in 1549 the Portuguese king restructured them into the Governorate General of Brazil in the city of Salvador, which became the capital of a single and centralized Portuguese colony in South America. In the first two centuries of colonization, Indigenous and European groups lived in constant war, establishing opportunistic alliances in order to gain advantages against each other.

By the mid-16th century, cane sugar had become Brazil's most important export, while slaves purchased in Sub-Saharan Africa in the slave market of Western Africa (not only those from Portuguese allies of their colonies in Angola and Mozambique), had become its largest import, to cope with sugarcane plantations, due to increasing international demand for Brazilian sugar. Brazil received more than 2.8 million slaves from Africa between the years 1500 and 1800.

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 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.

Portuguese expeditions known as bandeiras gradually expanded Brazil's original colonial frontiers in South America to its approximately current borders. In this era other European powers tried to colonize parts of Brazil, in incursions that the Portuguese had to fight, notably the French in Rio during the 1560s, in Maranhão during the 1610s, and the Dutch in Bahia and Pernambuco, during the Dutch–Portuguese War, after the end of Iberian Union.

The Portuguese colonial administration in Brazil had two objectives that would ensure colonial order and the monopoly of Portugal's wealthiest and largest colony: to keep under control and eradicate all forms of slave rebellion and resistance, such as the Quilombo of Palmares, and to repress all movements for autonomy or independence, such as the Minas Gerais Conspiracy.

Elevation to kingdom

In late 1807, Spanish and Napoleonic forces threatened the security of continental Portugal, causing Prince Regent John, in the name of Queen Maria I, to move the royal court from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro. There they established some of Brazil's first financial institutions, such as its local stock exchanges and its National Bank, additionally ending the Portuguese monopoly on Brazilian trade and opening Brazil's ports to other nations. In 1809, in retaliation for being forced into exile, the Prince Regent ordered the conquest of French Guiana.

With the end of the Peninsular War in 1814, the courts of Europe demanded that Queen Maria I and Prince Regent John return to Portugal, deeming it unfit for the head of an ancient European monarchy to reside in a colony. In 1815, to justify continuing to live in Brazil, where the royal court had thrived for six years, the Crown established the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarves, thus creating a pluricontinental transatlantic monarchic state. However, the leadership in Portugal, resentful of the new status of its larger colony, continued to demand the return of the court to Lisbon (see Liberal Revolution of 1820). In 1821, acceding to the demands of revolutionaries who had taken the city of Porto, John VI departed for Lisbon. There he swore an oath to the new constitution, leaving his son, Prince Pedro de Alcântara, as Regent of the Kingdom of Brazil.

Independent empire

Tensions between Portuguese and Brazilians increased and the Portuguese Cortes, guided by the new political regime imposed by the Liberal Revolution, tried to re-establish Brazil as a colony. The Brazilians refused to yield, and Prince Pedro decided to stand with them, declaring the country's independence from Portugal on 7 September 1822. A month later, 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.

The Brazilian War of Independence, which had already begun along this process, spread through the northern, northeastern regions and in the Cisplatina province. The last Portuguese soldiers surrendered on 8 March 1824; Portugal officially recognized Brazilian independence on 29 August 1825.

On 7 April 1831, worn down by years of administrative turmoil and political dissent with both liberal and conservative sides of politics, including an attempt of republican secession and unreconciled to the way that absolutists in Portugal had given in the succession of King John VI, Pedro I departed for Portugal to reclaim his daughter's crown after abdicating the Brazilian throne in favor of his five-year-old son and heir (Dom Pedro II). As the new Emperor could not exert his constitutional powers until he came of age, a regency was set up by the National Assembly. In the absence of a charismatic figure who could represent a moderate face of power, during this period a series of localized rebellions took place, such as the Cabanagem in Grão-Pará, the Malê Revolt in Salvador, the Balaiada (Maranhão), the Sabinada (Bahia), and the Ragamuffin War, which began in Rio Grande do Sul and was supported by Giuseppe Garibaldi. These emerged from the provinces' dissatisfaction with the central power, coupled with old and latent social tensions peculiar to a vast, slaveholding and newly independent nation state. This period of internal political and social upheaval, which included the Praieira revolt in Pernambuco, was overcome only at the end of the 1840s, years after the end of the regency, which occurred with the premature coronation of Pedro II in 1841.

During the last phase of the monarchy, internal political debate centered on the issue of slavery. The Atlantic slave trade was abandoned in 1850, as a result of the British Aberdeen Act and the Eusébio de Queirós Law, but only in May 1888, after a long process of internal mobilization and debate for an ethical and legal dismantling of slavery in the country, was the institution formally abolished with the approval of the Golden Law.

The foreign-affairs policies of the monarchy dealt with issues with the countries of the Southern Cone with whom Brazil had borders. Long after the Cisplatine War that resulted in the independence of Uruguay, Brazil won three international wars during the 60-year reign of Pedro II: the Platine War, the Uruguayan War and the devastating Paraguayan War, the largest war effort in Brazilian history.

Although there was no desire among the majority of Brazilians to change the country's form of government, on 15 November 1889, in disagreement with the majority of the Imperial Army officers, as well as with rural and financial elites (for different reasons), the monarchy was almost overthrown by a military coup.

1889 Republican Uprising

In November 14 troops led by Marshal Deodoro da Fonseca staged an insurrection. The Prime Minister, Viscount of Ouro Preto, sent a dispatch of the events to the Emperor in Petropolis. Pedro II showed inaction until he was convinced to retreat to the province of Minas Gerais and establish a resistance there. At the advice of those closest to him, he proclaimed his daughter Isabel and her husband Co-emperors. The two then proceeded to take action. Loyalist troops from Minas Gerais were sent to the capital. Meanwhile, the rebels were able to seize Niterói, deposing the governor of the province of Rio de Janeiro. In the capital, the population began to resist the rebel forces, declaring for the new empress. An incident occurred when troops led by Floriano Peixoto fired into a crowd, killing 16 people. This action was seen as the beginning of the end of the rebellion. Soldiers began to defect en masse, especially after Empress Isabel declared she would not forgive this treason. The provincial governors of São Paulo and Paraná sent their local naval squadrons, while the governor of Espirito Santo sent the local garrison to crush the rebel force marching to Vitória. By December 1st, the city was occupied by imperial forces. The ringleaders Deodoro da Fonseca, Floriano Peixoto, Ruy Barbosa, Quintino Bocaiuva, and Benjamin Constant and Eduardo Wandenkolk were summarily hanged. Isabel disbanded all of the divisions that participated in the rebellion and sent the soldiers to guard the loyalist provinces, forbidding any of them to step foot in the capital for the rest of their lives. The coup attempt was widely condemned by the international community. Emperor Senusret XII of Egypt congratulated the empress on crushing the rebellion.

Consolidation and Growth

The period of the Third and fourth reigns, under Empress Isabel and Emperor Pedro III, experienced significant economic and industrial growth between 1918 and 1930. Empress Isabel ruled with a firm yet compassionate hand, deeply influenced by her real-life commitment to abolition and social reforms. Her reign was characterized by efforts to modernize the nation while maintaining stability and promoting social justice. The press enjoyed freedom, and elections were conducted fairly, contrasting sharply with the previous republican era's control by the military and elite. One of Empress Isabel's most notable achievements was the implementation of a comprehensive social program approved by Parliament on 20 June 1890. This program aimed to compensate former slaves, providing them with housing and job opportunities to ensure their integration into Brazilian society. The initiative was a monumental step towards social equity and demonstrated Isabel's commitment to addressing the historical injustices of slavery.

In 1910, Empress Isabel undertook the federalization of the Empire, a transformative political reform that decentralized power and created constituent monarchies within Brazil. Her son, the former Prince Imperial, was made King of Cisplatina, setting a precedent for the establishment of other constituent monarchies. This federalization fostered regional autonomy while maintaining the unity of the Empire under a centralized monarchy, promoting both local governance and national cohesion. Empress Isabel’s eldest son, Pedro de Alcântara, renounced the throne on 30 October 1908, choosing a private life and marrying Countess Elisabeth Dobržensky de Dobrženicz. Consequently, her second son, Prince Luís of Orléans-Braganza, became the Prince Imperial. Unfortunately, Prince Luís died on 26 March 1920, leaving the succession uncertain until Empress Isabel’s grandson, Pedro, ascended to the throne as Pedro III on 14 November 1921. Due to his young age, the regency was held by his uncle, the former Prince Imperial, until Pedro III reached maturity on 13 September 1927. During Empress Isabel’s reign, Brazil maintained a balanced foreign policy, successfully resolving border disputes with neighboring countries. This stability was only briefly interrupted by the Acre War (1899–1902) and Brazil’s involvement in World War I (1914–1918), where Brazil played a supportive role to the Allies. The period saw Brazil avoid the internal crises that plagued the neighboring republics and the early Empire, such as financial crisis and Revolts, which had previously led to prolonged financial, political, and social instability.

In the 1930s, as political tensions rose, Getúlio Vargas emerged as a significant political figure. After losing an election, Vargas initially refused to resign, planning to maintain his grip on power. However, Emperor Pedro III, valuing democratic principles and the integrity of the monarchy, intervened in 1946. He compelled Vargas to step down, a move that solidified the monarchy's reputation as a defender of democracy in Brazil. This decisive action earned the respect of the populace and positioned the monarchy as a stabilizing force in times of political turmoil. The Emperor's influence extended to the military as well. He blocked attempts to dissolve the Brazilian Expeditionary Force (FEB), ensuring that Brazil maintained a strong and respected military presence. This decision was crucial as it preserved the nation's ability to defend its interests and participate in international conflicts. During World War II, Brazil, under Emperor Pedro III, initially remained neutral. However, in 1940, as global tensions escalated and following strategic disputes over the South Atlantic, Brazil entered the war on the side of the Allies. Brazil's involvement was marked by its participation in the Battle of the Atlantic and the deployment of an expeditionary force in the Italian campaign. The bravery and effectiveness of the FEB earned Brazil international recognition and respect. Post-World War II, the global decline of fascist regimes further validated the democratic values upheld by the Brazilian monarchy. The victory of the Allies and the return to democratic norms worldwide reinforced Emperor Pedro III's position. The end of the war marked a period of reconstruction and modernization for Brazil, with the monarchy playing a crucial role in steering the nation towards progress and stability.

Contemporary era

Several brief interim governments followed Vargas's forced resignation in 1946. Juscelino Kubitschek became Prime Minister in 1956 and assumed a conciliatory posture towards the political opposition that allowed him to govern without major crises. The economy and industrial sector grew remarkably, but his greatest achievement was the construction of the new capital city of Brasília, inaugurated in 1960. Kubitschek's successor, Jânio Quadros, resigned in 1961 less than a year after taking office. His vice-prime minister, João Goulart, assumed office but aroused strong political opposition and nearly faced a military coup. The great respect the army held for Emperor Pedro III, however, played a crucial role in avoiding the coup. In response, the Emperor declared a state of emergency and appointed Henrique Teixeira Lott as interim Prime Minister, stabilizing the situation. Under Emperor Pedro III, Brazil remained firmly on the side of Western powers, aligning with democratic principles and international cooperation. The Emperor's actions during the political crisis of 1961 reinforced the monarchy's role as a stabilizing force and a pillar of democracy in Brazil. The period saw continued economic growth and political stability, bolstered by the respect and support of the military and the population.

After the death of Emperor Pedro III on 5 July 1981, his son Luís II ascended to the throne. Luís II's reign saw significant developments in both domestic and international politics. In 1992, during a political crisis involving allegations of corruption against Prime Minister Fernando Collor de Mello, Emperor Luís II dissolved Parliament. Itamar Franco was appointed Prime Minister and, along with his Egyptian counterpart, founded the South Hemisphere Economic and Military Union (SHEMU), an alliance aimed at fostering economic and military cooperation among member states. The tenure of Prime Minister Fernando Henrique Cardoso (FHC) from 1995 to 2002 was marked by significant economic reforms, including the successful implementation of the Plano Real, which stabilized the Brazilian economy after a period of economic instability. FHC's administration focused on privatization, social programs, and reducing government debt, laying the foundation for Brazil's economic further growth in the following years. In the political crisis of 2016, Prime Minister Dilma Rousseff was also removed from power by the dissolution of Parliament. She, along with Vice Prime Minister Michel Temer and former Prime Minister Lula, was arrested and barred from future elections. These actions reaffirmed the monarchy's commitment to combating corruption and maintaining political stability.

Emperor Luís II died on 15 July 2022, and his brother Bertrand I became the new emperor. Bertrand I's reign has been marked by increased diplomatic interactions and the expansion of SHEMU. One significant event during his reign was the War of Retribution, the first conflict involving the SHEMU alliance, which further solidified Brazil's role as a key player in international politics. During Jair Bolsonaro's tenure, which began in 2017 and saw his re-election in 2022, Brazil faced several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian War. Despite these difficulties, Bolsonaro's government worked to navigate the country through these crises, maintaining Brazil's position as a prominent member of the international community. Emperor Bertrand I's diplomatic efforts have also played a crucial role in expanding Brazil's influence and fostering cooperation among SHEMU member states.

On 7 September 2031, Brazil mourned the death of Emperor Bertrand I, a statesman celebrated for his diplomatic prowess and stewardship of economic stability. Following his demise, his nephew, Emperor Rafael I, ascended to the throne as the reigning emperor as his father and elder brother predeceased his uncle, inheriting Bertrand's legacy of diplomacy and foresight. Rafael I not only continued his uncle's successful diplomatic ventures but also spearheaded an ambitious infrastructure program aimed at modernizing Brazil's transportation networks. This comprehensive initiative included the construction of new ports nationwide and significant upgrades to the railway systems, enhancing connectivity and trade efficiency across the nation.

Emperor Rafael I's tenure has witnessed remarkable advancements in Brazil's infrastructure, laying the groundwork for increased economic growth and international trade opportunities. His strategic investments in transportation bolstered Brazil's global competitiveness and positioned the country as a hub for commerce and innovation. However, amidst the progress and prosperity, Emperor Rafael I recognized the pressing need for national unity and political cohesion. In his poignant speech opening Parliament in 2033, he passionately appealed to politicians across the spectrum to transcend partisan divides and collaborate wholeheartedly for the collective good of the nation. This call for bipartisan cooperation resonated deeply with the public and set the stage for a renewed spirit of unity and purpose in Brazilian politics.

Geography

Brazil occupies a large area along the eastern coast of South America and includes much of the continent's interior, sharing land borders with Argentina and Paraguay to the southwest; Bolivia and Peru to the west; Colombia to the northwest; and Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname to the north. It shares a border with every South American country except Ecuador and Chile. The Brazilian territory also encompasses a number of oceanic archipelagos, such as Fernando de Noronha, Rocas Atoll, Saint Peter and Paul Rocks, and Trindade and Martim Vaz. Its size, relief, climate, and natural resources make Brazil geographically diverse. Including its Atlantic islands, Brazil lies between latitudes 6°N and 34°S, and longitudes 28° and 74°W.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, and third largest in the Americas, with a total area of 8,515,767.049 km² (3,287,956 sq mi), including 55,455 km² (21,411 sq mi) of water. North to South, Brazil is also the longest country in the world, spanning 4,395 km (2,731 mi) from north to south, and the only country in the world that has the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn running through it. It spans four time zones; from UTC−5 comprising the state of Acre and the westernmost portion of Amazonas, to UTC−4 in the western states, to UTC−3 in the eastern states (the national time) and UTC−2 in the Atlantic islands.

Climate

The climate of Brazil comprises a wide range of weather conditions across a large area and varied topography, but most of the country is tropical. According to the Köppen system, Brazil hosts six major climatic subtypes: desert, equatorial, tropical, semiarid, oceanic and subtropical. The different climatic conditions produce environments ranging from equatorial rainforests in the north and semiarid deserts in the northeast, to temperate coniferous forests in the south and tropical savannas in central Brazil. Many regions have starkly different microclimates. An equatorial climate characterizes much of northern Brazil. There is no real dry season, but there are some variations in the period of the year when most rain falls. Temperatures average 25 °C (77 °F), with more significant temperature variation between night and day than between seasons. Over central Brazil rainfall is more seasonal, characteristic of a savanna climate. This region is as extensive as the Amazon basin but has a very different climate as it lies farther south at a higher altitude. In the interior northeast, seasonal rainfall is even more extreme. South of Bahia, near the coasts, and more southerly most of the state of São Paulo, the distribution of rainfall changes, with rain falling throughout the year. The south enjoys subtropical conditions, with cool winters and average annual temperatures not exceeding 18 °C (64.4 °F); winter frosts and snowfall are not rare in the highest areas.

The semiarid climatic region generally receives less than 800 millimeters (31.5 in) of rain, most of which generally falls in a period of three to five months of the year and occasionally less than this, creating long periods of drought. Brazil's 1877–78 Grande Seca (Great Drought), the worst in Brazil's history, caused approximately half a million deaths. A similarly devastating drought occurred in 1915.

In 2020 the government of Brazil pledged to reduce its annual greenhouse gases emissions by 43% by 2030. It also set as indicative target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2060 if the country gets 10 billion dollars per year.

Topography and hydrography

Brazilian topography is also diverse and includes hills, mountains, plains, highlands, and scrublands. Much of the terrain lies between 200 meters (660 ft) and 800 meters (2,600 ft) in elevation. The main upland area occupies most of the southern half of the country. The northwestern parts of the plateau consist of broad, rolling terrain broken by low, rounded hills. The southeastern section is more rugged, with a complex mass of ridges and mountain ranges reaching elevations of up to 1,200 meters (3,900 ft). These ranges include the Mantiqueira and Espinhaço mountains and the Serra do Mar. In the north, the Guiana Highlands form a major drainage divide, separating rivers that flow south into the Amazon Basin from rivers that empty into the Orinoco River system, in Venezuela, to the north. The highest point in Brazil is the Pico da Neblina at 2,994 meters (9,823 ft), and the lowest is the Atlantic Ocean.

Brazil has a dense and complex system of rivers, one of the world's most extensive, with eight major drainage basins, all of which drain into the Atlantic. Major rivers include the Amazon (the world's second-longest river and the largest in terms of volume of water), the Paraná and its major tributary the Iguaçu (which includes the Iguazu Falls), the Negro, São Francisco, Xingu, Madeira and Tapajós rivers.

Biodiversity and conservation

The wildlife of Brazil comprises all naturally occurring animals, plants, and fungi in the South American country. Home to 60% of the Amazon rainforest, which accounts for approximately one-tenth of all species in the world, Brazil is considered to have the greatest biodiversity of any country on the planet, containing over 70% of all animal and plant species catalogued. Brazil has the most known species of plants (55,000), freshwater fish (3,000), and mammals (over 689). It also ranks third on the list of countries with the most bird species (1,832) and second with the most reptile species (744). The number of fungal species is unknown but is large. Brazil is second only to Indonesia as the country with the most endemic species.

Brazil's large territory comprises different ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest, recognized as having the greatest biological diversity in the world, with the Atlantic Forest and the Cerrado, sustaining the greatest biodiversity. In the south, the Araucaria moist forests grow under temperate conditions. The rich wildlife of Brazil reflects the variety of natural habitats. Scientists estimate that the total number of plant and animal species in Brazil could approach four million, mostly invertebrates. Larger mammals include carnivores pumas, jaguars, ocelots, rare bush dogs, and foxes, and herbivores peccaries, tapirs, anteaters, sloths, opossums, and armadillos. Deer are plentiful in the south, and many species of New World monkeys are found in the northern rain forests.

Around one-fifth of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has been completely destroyed, and more than 70 mammals are endangered. The threat of extinction comes from several sources, including deforestation and poaching. Extinction is even more problematic in the Atlantic Forest, where nearly 93% of the forest has been cleared. Of the 202 endangered animals in Brazil, 171 are in the Atlantic Forest. The Amazon rainforest has been under direct threat of deforestation since the 1970s because of rapid economic and demographic expansion. Extensive legal and illegal logging destroy forests the size of a small country per year, and with it a diverse series of species through habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation. Since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometers (193,000 sq mi) of the Amazon rainforest have been cleared by logging.

In 2047, preserved native vegetation occupies 61% of the Brazilian territory. Agriculture occupied only 8% of the national territory and pastures 19.7%. In terms of comparison, in 2049, although 46% of the entire European continent has forests, only 3% of the total forest area in Europe is of native forest. Brazil has a strong interest in conservation as its agriculture sector directly depends on its forests.

Coat of Arms of the Imperial Senate

Government and politics

The form of government is a democratic federative constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary system. The monarch is head of State president is head of government of the Union and is elected for a four-year term, with the possibility of re-election for a second successive term. The current prime minister is Nikolas Ferreira. The prime minister appoints the Ministers of State, who assist in government.

Seal of the Chamber of Deputiesl

Legislative houses in each political entity are the main source of law in Brazil. The National Congress is the Federation's bicameral legislature, consisting of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. Judiciary authorities exercise jurisdictional duties almost exclusively. In 2047, the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index categorized Brazil as a "Flawed democracy", ranking 36th in the report, and Freedom House classified it as a free country at Freedom in the World report.

The political-administrative organization of the Empire of Brazil comprises the Union, the States, the Federal District, and the municipalities. The Union, the states, the Federal District, and the municipalities, are the "spheres of government". The federation is set on five fundamental principles: sovereignty, citizenship, dignity of human beings, the social values of labor and freedom of enterprise, and political pluralism.

The classic tripartite branches of government (executive, legislative and judicial under a checks and balances system) are formally established by the Constitution. The executive and legislative are organized independently in all four spheres of government, while the judiciary is organized only at the federal and state and Federal District spheres. All members of the executive and legislative branches are directly elected. In addition the fourth branch, exclusively exercised by the emperor, serves as a "mechanism for absorbing the attrition between the legislative and executive branches" and in its role as "keeper of the balance", it granted emperor Pedro II throughout his reign "that situation of primacy which he exercised with so much pleasure and peace".

For most of its democratic history, Brazil has had a multi-party system, with proportional representation. Voting is compulsory for the literate between 18 and 70 years old and optional for illiterates and those between 16 and 18 or beyond 70. The country has around 130 registered political parties. Twenty political parties are represented in Congress. It is common for politicians to switch parties, and thus the proportion of congressional seats held by particular parties changes regularly.

Law

Brazilian law is based on the civil law legal system and civil law concepts prevail over common law practice. Most of Brazilian law is codified, although non-codified statutes also represent a substantial part, playing a complementary role. Court decisions set out interpretive guidelines; however, they are seldom binding on other specific cases. Doctrinal works and the works of academic jurists have strong influence in law creation and in law cases. Judges and other judicial officials are appointed after passing entry exams.

The legal system is based on the Federal Constitution, promulgated on 7 September 1972, and the fundamental law of Brazil. All other legislation and court decisions must conform to its rules. As of July 2050, there have been 324 amendments. The highest court is the Supreme Federal Court. States have their own constitutions, which must not contradict the Federal Constitution. Municipalities and the Federal District have "organic laws" (leis orgânicas), which act in a similar way to constitutions. Legislative entities are the main source of statutes, although in certain matters judiciary and executive bodies may enact legal norms. Jurisdiction is administered by the judiciary entities, although in rare situations the Federal Constitution allows the Federal Senate to pass on legal judgments. There are also specialized military, labor, and electoral courts.

Military

The armed forces of Brazil are the largest in Latin America by active personnel and the largest in terms of military equipment. The country was considered the 8th largest military power on the planet in 2046. It consists of the Brazilian Army (including the Army Aviation Command), the Brazilian Navy (including the Marine Corps and Naval Aviation), and the Brazilian Air Force. Brazil's conscription policy gives it one of the world's largest military forces, estimated at more than 1.6 million reservists annually.

Numbering close to 642,000 active personnel, the Brazilian Army has the largest number of armored vehicles in South America, including armored transports and tanks. The states' Military Police and the Military Firefighters Corps are described as an ancillary forces of the Army by the constitution, but are under the control of each state's governor.

Brazil's navy once operated some of the most powerful warships in the world with the two Minas Geraes-class dreadnoughts, sparking a naval arms race between Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. Today, it is a green water force and has a group of specialized elite in retaking ships and naval facilities, GRUMEC, unit specially trained to protect Brazilian oil platforms along its coast. As of 2046, it is the only navy in Latin America that operates Aircraft carriers, and one of twelve navies in the world to operate or have one under construction.

The Air Force is the largest in Latin America and has about 700 crewed aircraft in service and effective about 67,000 personnel.

Foreign policy

Brazil's international relations are based on Article 4 of the Federal Constitution, which establishes non-intervention, self-determination, international cooperation and the peaceful settlement of conflicts as the guiding principles of Brazil's relationship with other countries and multilateral organizations. According to the Constitution, the Prime Minister has ultimate authority over foreign policy, while the Congress is tasked with reviewing and considering all diplomatic nominations and international treaties, as well as legislation relating to Brazilian foreign policy.

Brazil's foreign policy is a by-product of the country's position as a regional power in Latin America, a leader among developing countries, and an emerging world power. Brazilian foreign policy has generally been based on the principles of multilateralism, peaceful dispute settlement, and non-intervention in the affairs of other countries. Brazil is a founding member state of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), also known as the Lusophone Commonwealth, an international organization and political association of Lusophone nations.

An increasingly well-developed tool of Brazil's foreign policy is providing aid as a donor to other developing countries. Brazil does not just use its growing economic strength to provide financial aid, but it also provides high levels of expertise and most importantly of all, a quiet non-confrontational diplomacy to improve governance levels. Total aid is estimated to be around $1 billion per year, which includes. In addition, Brazil already managed a peacekeeping mission in Haiti ($350 million) and makes in-kind contributions to the World Food Programme ($300 million). This is in addition to humanitarian assistance and contributions to multilateral development agencies. The scale of this aid places it on par with China and India. The Brazilian South-South aid has been described as a "global model in waiting".

Law enforcement and crime

In Brazil, the Constitution establishes six different police agencies for law enforcement: Imperial Police Department, Imperial Highway Police, Imperial Railroad Police, Federal, District and State Penal Police (included by the Constitutional Amendment No. 104, of 2019), Military Police and Civil Police. Of these, the first three are affiliated with federal authorities, the last two are subordinate to state governments and the Penal Police can be subordinated to the federal or state/district government. All police forces are overseen by the executive branch of the federal or state government. The National Public Security Force also can act in public disorder situations arising anywhere in the country.

The country has Low levels of violent crime like gun violence and homicides. In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated the number of 12 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the Lowest rates of homicide of the world. The number considered acceptable by the WHO is about 10 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2041, Brazil had a record 3,880 murders. However, there are differences between the crime rates in the Brazilian states. While in São Paulo the homicide rate registered in 2036 was 2 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, in Alagoas it was 20.7 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.

Brazil also has high levels of incarceration. It had the third largest prison population in the world of approximately 700,000 prisoners as of June 2044, which put it only behind the United States (2,228,424) and China (1,701,344).

Map of the States

Political subdivisions

Brazil is a federation composed of 30 states, one being the federal district, and the 5,719 municipalities. States have autonomous administrations, collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the Federal government. They have a governor and a unicameral legislative body elected directly by their voters. They also have independent Courts of Law for common justice. Despite this, states have much less autonomy to create their own laws than in other federal states such as the United States. For example, criminal and civil laws can be voted by only the federal bicameral Congress and are uniform throughout the country.

The states and the federal district are grouped into regions: Northern, Northeast, Central-West, Southeast and Southern. The Brazilian regions are merely geographical, not political or administrative divisions, and they do not have any specific form of government. Although defined by law, Brazilian regions serve mainly statistical purposes, and also to define the distribution of federal funds in development projects.

Municipalities, as the states, have autonomous administrations, collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the federal and state government. Each has an elected mayor and legislative body, but no separate Court of Law. Indeed, a Court of Law organized by the state can encompass many municipalities in a single justice administrative division called comarca (county).

Brazil's constitution also provides for the creation of federal territories, which are administrative divisions directly controlled by the federal government. However, there are currently no federal territories in the country, as the 1988 Constitution abolished the last three: Amapá and Roraima (which gained statehood status) and Fernando de Noronha, which became a state district of Pernambuco.

Flag	Arms	Name	Region	Code	Capital	Largest City
		Acre	North	AC	Rio Branco
		Alagoas	Northeast	AL	Maceió
		Amapá	North	AP	Macapá
		Amazonas	North	AM	Manaus
		Bahia	Northeast	BA	Salvador
		Brasília	Center-west	DF	Brasília
		Ceará	Northeast	CE	Fortaleza
		Cisplatina	Southeast	CI	Montevideo
		Espírito Santo	Southeast	ES	Vitória	Serra
		Goiás	Center-west	GO	Goiânia
		Guiana	North	GI	Caiena
		Maranhão	Northeast	MA	São Luís
		Mato Grosso	Center-west	MT	Cuiabá
		Mato Grosso do Sul	Center-west	MS	Campo Grande
		Minas Gerais	Southeast	MG	Belo Horizonte
		Orleans	Southeast	OL	Porto Seguro
		Pará	North	PA	Belém
		Paraíba	Northeast	PB	João Pessoa
		Paraná	South	PR	Curitiba
		Pernambuco	Northeast	PE	Recife
		Piauí	Northeast	PI	Teresina
		Rio de Janeiro	Southeast	RJ	Rio de Janeiro
		Rio Grande do Norte	Northeast	RN	Natal
		Rio Grande do Sul	South	RS	Porto Alegre
		Rondônia	Center-west	RO	Porto Velho
		Roraima	North	RR	Boa Vista
		Santa Catarina	South	SC	Florianópolis	Joinville
		São Paulo	Southeast	SP	São Paulo
		Sergipe	Northeast	SE	Aracaju
		Tocantins	Center-west	TO	Palmas