Brazil's expansion into the interior was a complex process driven by the search for resources and land. Portuguese colonizers faced challenges in the harsh Sertão region, but their efforts extended control over vast territories beyond the coast.

Territorial conflicts shaped Brazil's borders and colonial dynamics. The Dutch occupation, Treaty of Madrid, and indigenous resistance all played crucial roles in defining the country's boundaries and highlighting the complexities of colonial rule.

Expansion into the Interior

Exploration and Settlement of the Sertão

• Sertão refers to the vast, semi-arid interior region of northeastern Brazil, characterized by its harsh climate and challenging living conditions
• Portuguese colonizers gradually expanded into the Sertão, driven by the search for precious metals, indigenous slaves, and new land for cattle ranching
• Settlement of the Sertão was a slow and difficult process due to the region's remoteness, lack of infrastructure, and resistance from indigenous populations
• Despite the challenges, the expansion into the Sertão played a crucial role in extending Portuguese control over the interior of Brazil (Pernambuco, Bahia)

Expeditions and Slave Raids

• Entradas were official expeditions organized by the Portuguese crown to explore the interior of Brazil, often with the goal of finding precious metals and capturing indigenous slaves
• Bandeiras were private expeditions, typically organized by wealthy colonists from São Paulo (bandeirantes), that ventured into the interior for similar purposes
• These expeditions were often violent, leading to the enslavement and displacement of countless indigenous communities
• Bandeiras played a significant role in expanding Portuguese territory beyond the Tordesillas Line, into areas claimed by Spain (Mato Grosso, Goiás)

Territorial Conflicts

Dutch Occupation and Resistance

• The Dutch West India Company invaded and occupied northeastern Brazil from 1630 to 1654, establishing the colony of New Holland
• The Dutch presence in Brazil was driven by the desire to control the lucrative sugar trade and challenge Portuguese dominance in the region
• Portuguese colonists, aided by indigenous allies, engaged in a protracted struggle to reclaim the occupied territories
• The Dutch were eventually expelled from Brazil in 1654, following a series of decisive battles and the surrender of Recife, their last stronghold

Defining Borders and the Treaty of Madrid

• The Treaty of Madrid (1750) was a landmark agreement between Portugal and Spain that sought to define the borders of their respective colonies in South America
• The treaty recognized the principle of uti possidetis, which granted each country the right to territories it effectively occupied, regardless of the original Tordesillas Line
• This agreement led to the transfer of the Seven Missions (Sete Povos das Missões) from Spain to Portugal, as these Jesuit-run settlements were located in territory now claimed by Portugal
• The Treaty of Madrid, while not fully implemented due to later conflicts, laid the foundation for the modern borders of Brazil

Seven Reductions War and Indigenous Resistance

• The Seven Reductions War (1754-1756), also known as the Guaraní War, was a conflict that arose from the Treaty of Madrid's territorial changes
• The Guaraní people, who lived in the Seven Missions, resisted the transfer of their lands from Spanish to Portuguese control
• Jesuit missionaries, who had established the reductions, were caught between their loyalty to the Guaraní and their obligation to comply with the treaty
• The conflict ended with the defeat of the Guaraní and the destruction of the missions, showcasing the impact of colonial rivalries on indigenous populations

Administrative Reforms

Pombaline Reforms and Modernization Efforts

• The Pombaline Reforms were a series of economic, administrative, and educational measures implemented by the Marquis of Pombal, Portugal's Secretary of State, in the mid-18th century
• These reforms aimed to modernize the Portuguese Empire, increase its efficiency, and reduce the influence of the Catholic Church and the nobility
• In Brazil, the reforms included the expulsion of the Jesuits (1759), who were seen as a challenge to royal authority and economic development
• The Pombaline Reforms also sought to stimulate agricultural production, diversify the economy (tobacco, cotton), and improve tax collection in the colony
• While the reforms had mixed success, they represented an important shift towards centralization and a more interventionist approach to colonial administration