FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2024-163

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (August 29, 2024) – In this edition of Fun with Maps we note the formal independence of a former Portuguese “island?”.

Portugal no more

Pedro Alvares Cabral and party sailing on 13 ships landed in 1500 in what they considered, at first, to be an island, but it was to be Brazil.  He claimed in for Portugal.

Brazil remained under Portuguese rule until formally gaining independence on August 29, 1825.

It is one of the most diverse countries in terms of flora and fauna, and the latter includes people too.  There still are many rather isolated tribes in the vast Amazon basin.

The two largest and most influential cities fought to be the capital of the nation – Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.  Rio, the temporary winner, was replaced as the capital by a new city, Brasilia, located well inland, in 1960.  Somewhat like the US where the capital was a city born from scratch, Washington DC.

Brazil has slightly over 200 million people and has the 8th largest economy, as measured by GDP, in the world.  It has one of the largest football (soccer) dynasties, going back to the 12960s, Pele’s days. 

Tallis’ 1850 map of Brazil with vignettes is presented here.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.