History of Brazil

Brazil Travel & Tours / History - Brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata), or pau - brasil in Portuguese, is an endemic tree of the Atlantic Rainforest / (Mata Atlântica), which probably gave Brazil its name (Ilha de Vera Cruz (1500), Terra Nova / dos Papagaios (1501), Terra de Vera Cruz / Santa Cruz (1503), Terra de Santa Cruz do Brasil / do Brasil (1505), Brasil (1527)).

Its wood contains a red dye, which at that time was highly requested by the European textile industry. During the pre-colonial time, the brazilwood and some exotic animals were the countries only export products and the base for a kind of an exchange trade (escambo) with the Indians.

The Indians delivered cut and barked brazilwood to the Portuguese trading posts (feitorias) and received in exchange simple industrial products such as axes, knifes, combs or mirrors.

See also: Tour 4: Porto Seguro - Salvador