Account For The Slow Pace Of The Portuguese Colonization Of Brazil

A number of factors accounted for the slow pace of colonization. Brazil’s large land mass proved difficult to establish and colonize at the time due to Portugal’s limited human recourses. Portugal was a small nation whose wealth was based on commercial activity. Portugal’s maritime explorations were impressive leading the other European nations, and establishing a number of colonies across Africa and Asia. During the fifteenth century the sailors of Portugal made considerable advancements in maritime explorations mainly because of Portugal’s geographic location as well as its association with prince Henry [1394-1460]. Prince Henry, also known as the ‘Navigator’ aided greatly to the improvement of navigational equipment and knowledge. However the discovery of Brazil added more problems to the empire whose population was under 1 million, and human resources already stretched to scattered to a braking point.

On arrival the Portuguese found an Amerindian population living al...