The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was a pioneering attempt to divide the newly discovered world between Portugal and Spain.
Papal Bull Inter Caetera and the Treaty of Tordesillas
The Papal Bull Inter Caetera, issued by Pope Alexander VI on May 4, 1493, was crucial in the initial division of the "New World" between Portugal and Spain. The document established a meridian 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, granting Spain the rights to lands west of this line and Portugal the lands to the east. This decision aimed to legitimize Spanish possessions following Christopher Columbus's voyages. However, Portugal was dissatisfied with this demarcation, as it limited its expansion and did not consider its explorations already carried out, including those that had reached Brazilian lands.
In response to Portuguese objections, negotiations were initiated that resulted in the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494. The treaty moved the demarcation line to 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, allowing Portugal to claim territories that are now part of Brazil. The signing involved not only political interests of the crowns but also economic ones, especially those of Andalusian merchants who feared losing their profits from trade in the Guinea region. The Holy See played an active role in mediation, reflecting the Church's influence in geopolitical affairs of the time.
Despite being pioneering, the Treaty of Tordesillas presented inaccuracies in defining the dividing line, which generated controversies and territorial disputes in the following centuries. Historians debate whether King John II already had knowledge of Brazil's existence during the negotiations. The treaty not only redefined the spheres of influence between Portugal and Spain but also represented a complex diplomatic effort that involved political, economic, and religious considerations at a crucial moment in the Age of Discovery.
Portuguese Colonization and the Hereditary Captaincies
After the Treaty of Tordesillas, the Portuguese Crown recognized the need to efficiently organize and colonize the vast Brazilian territory to consolidate its possession. Facing competition from other Europeans — such as the French, who traded brazilwood and established relations with the indigenous people —, Martim Afonso de Sousa implemented a new colonization policy in 1531. The distribution of the first sesmarias (lands granted to settlers) was crucial to encourage occupation and defend the territory. This strategy gave rise to the hereditary captaincies, large areas administered by captains-donataries. They were responsible for economically developing their regions and defending the territory, mainly through sugar production.
The implementation of the hereditary captaincies, however, faced several challenges. Most failed due to a lack of resources, internal conflicts, inexperience of the donataries, and confrontations with indigenous people. Only São Vicente and Pernambuco prospered, combining sugar production with more harmonious relations with local tribes. This widespread failure led the Portuguese Crown to resume direct control, transforming the captaincies into public administrative units and centralizing colonial administration.
Treaty of Madrid
With the advancement of colonial expansion and geographical explorations, ambiguities arose in the original demarcation, especially in the Amazon and River Plate regions. This made a new agreement necessary to avoid conflicts between the two Iberian powers. In 1750, Portugal and Spain signed the Treaty of Madrid, aiming to resolve the territorial disputes inherited from the Treaty of Tordesillas. This new treaty redefined the borders based on the principle of effective occupation, rather than the merely longitudinal division established previously.
The treaty also impacted Jesuit missions, contributing to the expansion and consolidation of colonial borders.
The Formation of Modern Federative Units
The current configuration of Brazil's federative units is a direct result of the transformations that have occurred since the colonial period. The captaincies of the Viceroyalty evolved into imperial provinces and, subsequently, into the states of the Republic. Throughout the 20th century, the division and creation of new federative units continued, driven by the occupation of interior regions and the political demands of regional elites.
A notable example is Acre, created as a federal territory in 1903, after the incorporation of the area acquired from Bolivia through the Treaty of Petrópolis. During World War II, new federal territories such as Rio Branco (now Roraima), Amapá, and Rondônia were established to strengthen the country's external security. With the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, most of these territories were elevated to the category of states, consolidating federalism and valuing the interior regions. Today, Brazil is composed of 26 states and the Federal District. Although less frequent, the creation of new federative units continues to meet regional demands for greater representation and political power, demonstrating the dynamic and negotiable nature of Brazil's territorial configuration.
Conclusion
The formation of the Brazilian territory is a process marked by profound historical influences, from Portuguese colonization to the contemporary federal structure. The analysis of the hereditary captaincies, administrative centralization, the transfer of the Court, and the evolution towards federalism reveal how Brazil consolidated itself as a unified nation, overcoming complexities and challenges along the way.
Understanding these dynamics is fundamental to deepen studies on the national territory and face the current challenges of regional development and integration. Brazil's territorial history offers valuable lessons on the importance of political organization and the valorization of regions in building a cohesive and diverse country.
References
- LYRA, Maria de Lourdes Viana. Brazil and Its Territorial History. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Universitária, 1994.
- MORAES, A.C.R. Bases of Territorial Formation in Brazil, 1st edition. Ed. Hucitec, 1999.
- MORAES, A.C.R. Geographic Ideologies, 4th ed. São Paulo: Hucitec/Annablume, 2002.
- LYRA, Maria de Lourdes Viana. History of Brazil: Colonial Brazil. São Paulo: Saraiva, 2002.
This article sought to offer a comprehensive and accessible view of the territorial formation of Brazil, combining an academic approach with engaging language to facilitate understanding of the main historical processes that shaped the Brazilian nation.