This book is a crucial reference source for high school and undergraduate college students interested in contemporary Brazil. While it provides a general historical and cultural background, it also focuses on issues affecting modern Brazil.In recent years, Brazil has come onto the world stage as an economic powerhouse, a leader in Latin America. This latest addition to the Understanding Modern Nations series focuses on Brazil's culture, history, and society.This volume provides readers with a wide understanding of Brazil's historical past, the foundation for its cultural traditions, and an understanding of its social structure. In addition, it provides a look into contemporary society by highlighting both national accomplishments and challenges Brazilians face in the twenty-first century.Specific chapters cover geography; history; government and politics; economy; religion; social classes and ethnicity; gender, marriage and sexuality; education; language; etiquette; literature and drama; arts and architecture; music and dance; food; leisure and sports; and media, cinema, and popular culture. Entries within each chapter look at topics such as cultural icons, economic inequalities, race and ethnicity, soccer, politics, environmental conservation, and women's rights. Ideal for high school and undergraduate students, this volume paints a panoramic overview of one of the most powerful countries in the Americas.

Series ForewordPrefaceIntroductionChapter 1: GeographyOverviewAmazon Basin and Rain ForestBrasília and the Federal DistrictClimateDeforestationEarth Summit, Rio 2012EnvironmentInfrastructure: Roads, Airports, Ports, and RailwaysInteroceanic HighwayIslands and ArchipelagosItaipú Hydroelectric Power PlantMain Cities and Urban RegionsMajor RiversMendes, Chico (1944-1988)Offshore Oil and Natural GasThe Sertão and Devastating DroughtsWorld Heritage Sites in the UNESCOChapter 2: HistoryOverviewTimelineÁlvares Cabral, Pedro (1467 or 1468-1520)BandeirantesBrazilian Empire: Pedro I (1798-1834) and Pedro II (1825-1891)Captaincy Colonial SystemGold Rush and Minas GeraisIsabel, Princess Regent of Brazil (1846-1921)Kubitschek de Oliveira, Juscelino (1902-1976)Operation Condor and Military RuleParaguayan War (1864-1870)Silva, Benedita da (1942-)Slavery, Abolition, and African HeritageTiradentes (1746-1792) and the Inconfidência MineiraVargas, Getúlio (1882-1954)Chapter 3: Government and PoliticsOverviewConstitutionsCorruption and Political ScandalsElectoral SystemForeign PolicyHuman RightsLaw EnforcementLula da Silva, Luiz Inácio (1945-)Political PartiesPolitical PatronageRousseff, Dilma (1947-)Temer, Michel (1940-)United Nations and BrazilWomen's RightsWorkers' Party (PT) in PowerChapter 4: EconomyOverviewAgrarian ReformAusterity Measures of 2016Automobile IndustryBRICS Economic GroupCardoso, Fernando Henrique (1931-)Coffee ExportsEmbraer, Empresa Brasileira de AeronáuticaEnergy Industry: Electricity, Oil, Ethanol, and Renewable SourcesFavelas (Slums)Foreign InvestmentLabor MigrationMajor ExportsManufacturingMercosul/MercosurMineral WealthPetrobras, the National Oil CompanyStock Exchanges: Bovespa, BM&Amp;F, and B3TourismTrading PartnersWorld Trade Organization (WTO)Chapter 5: Religion and ThoughtOverviewCandomblé and MacumbaCatholicismDe Souza Chaui, Marilena (1941-)Freire, Paulo (1921-1997)Freyre, Gilberto (1900-1987)Liberation TheologyMessianism and Miracle WorkersNossa Senhora Aparecida, Brazil's Patron SaintOrixás, African GodsProtestant ReligionsSpiritismUniversal Church of the Kingdom of GodChapter 6: Social Classes and EthnicityOverviewAfrican Ancestry and InfluenceDistribution of Wealth and Income DisparityEducation and Upward MobilityFavelas, Mocambos, and Alagados (Slums)Indigenous PopulationsLandless Rural Workers Movement (MST)Mixed Ethnicities: Caboclo, Cafuso, Mameluco, and MulattoModern ImmigrationParentelaPoverty, Social Conflict, and ProtestsRacism and DiscriminationUrban CrimeChapter 7: Gender, Marriage, and SexualityOverviewAbortion LawsDating and CourtingDesquite and DivorceDomestic ViolenceFeminismGender and Parenting RolesGender EqualityLGBTQ Community and RightsMaternity and Paternity LeaveRaising ChildrenRepresentation in GovernmentRepresentation in the WorkforceSuffrageWedding Traditions and CelebrationsChapter 8: EducationOverviewAffirmative Action PoliciesÁvila, Artur (1979-)Bolsa Família: Welfare Program with Education IncentivesEducation Reforms of 2016Higher Education and Major UniversitiesINEP, National Institute for Educational Studies and ResearchLiteracy RatesPrivate, International, and Religious SchoolsPublic Education: Elementary and Secondary SchoolingScientific and Technical ResearchUnipalmares, University for Afro-Descendent StudentsVestibular Testing for College AdmissionChapter 9: LanguageOverviewFormality LevelsHand GesturesIndigenous LanguagesNicknamesSign Language (LIBRAS)Spelling ReformTupi-Guarani InfluenceChapter 10: EtiquetteOverviewBargainingClothing and Dressing AppropriatelyFormal Business MeetingsIntermediaries: Colonels and DespachantesJeitinho, Finding a WayMachismoPersonal Space and PrivacyPunctuality and Concepts of TimeTable MannersChapter 11: Literature and DramaOverviewAmado, Jorge (1912-2001)Bandeira, Manuel (1886-1968)Contemporary WritersDa Cunha, Euclides (1866-1909)De Andrade, Oswald (1890-1954)Guimarães Rosa, João (1908-1967)Lima Barreto, Alfonso (1881-1922)Literary CanonLiterary Censorship by the MilitaryMachado de Assis, Joaquim Maria (1839-1908)Modern Theater and PlaywrightsModernism in BrazilPostindependence LiteratureChapter 12: Art and ArchitectureOverviewAleijadinho (1730 or 1738-1814)Baroque Art and Architecture in Minas GeraisCinto, Sandra (1968-)Costa, Lúcio (1902-1998): Brasília's Urban PlannerFrench Artistic MissionMendes da Rocha, Paulo (1928-)Modern Art Week, São Paulo, 1922Niemeyer, Oscar (1907-2012)Ouro PretoPopular Arts and CraftsPortinari, Cândido (1903-1962)Chapter 13: Music and DanceOverviewBossa NovaCarnival"Girl from Ipanema" SongJobim, Antônio Carlos (1927-1994)Música Popular Brasileira (MPB)Música SertanejaMusical InstrumentsRegional Music and DanceSamba Music and DanceTropicáliaVilla-Lobos, Heitor (1887-1959)Chapter 14: FoodOverviewCafezinho, a Small Shot of Strong CoffeeCaipirinha, a National CocktailCarne de Sol, Dried Salted MeatChurrasco, Brazilian BarbecueContemporary Brazilian ChefsFeijoada, Brazil's National DishMealtimes and Eating HabitsMinas Gerais GastronomyRegional SweetsZero Hunger Strategy in BrazilChapter 15: Leisure and SportsOverviewBasketballBeach and SandBrazilian Jiu-JitsuCapoeiraFamily Outings and VacationsFutebol (Soccer)Mega Sena, Brazilian LotteryMotor Sports: Formula 1 and Grand PrixOlympic Games, Rio de Janeiro 2016Paralympic Games 2016Pelé (1940-), Ronaldinho (1980-), and Neymar (1992-)Soccer FIFA World Cup 2014TelenovelasChapter 16: Media and Popular CultureOverviewCinema and Film FestivalsCultural IconsFolia de Reis, Three Wise Men CelebrationMajor NewspapersMeirelles, Fernando (1955-)Reality Television ShowsRede Globo and Other Television NetworksSalles, Walter, Jr. (1956-)Social Media and Internet UseSports IconsXuxa (1963-)Appendix A: A Day in the LifeA Day in the Life of a University StudentA Day in the Life of an Office WorkerA Day in the Life of a HousewifeA Day in the Life of an Agricultural Working FamilyAppendix B: Glossary of Key TermsAppendix C: Facts and FiguresAppendix D: HolidaysSelected BibliographyIndex