It is believed that the Amerindians who inhabited the actual territory of Brazil
about 5000 years ago, were mainly concentrated in the
Amazon
region. According to linguistic criteria, there were two principal roots:
Macro - Tupi and Macro - Jê.
The Macro-Tupi root consisted of seven families, among others
the Tupi - Guraranis.
For little known reasons, a geographic expansion to other Brazilian regions,
including the coastal area and what is now the
Atlantic
Rainforest
Biome
(
Mata Atlântica)
took place between 2000 and 3000 years ago.
The Tupi - Guaranis, who of all Amerindian groups had reached the most advanced
civilizational stage (e.g., they dominated the art of ceramics) achieved to drive out
the simpler societies, principally the Jês, and to settle along the coast.
The Jês, who were called "Tabuis" (barbarian enemy) by the Tupi - Guaranis
had to retreat to the highlands (plateaus) in the interior of the country.
About 1000 years ago, the Tupi - Guaranis separated into two different linguistic groups:
the Tupis and the Guaranis. The Tupis installed themselves from
Cananéia
(actual state of
São Paulo)
to the north, in the
tropical
coastal area and the Guaranis south of Cananéia in the
subtropical
coastal area of Brazil.
Upon the arrival of the Portuguese and the "official" discovery of Brazil by Cabral
in 1500
(see
Monte Pascoal),
the different tribes were distributed as follows along Brazil's Atlantic coast:
in the south, between Lagoa dos Patos and Cananéia,
predominated the Carijó (56.000), from there until Bertioga the Tupiniquim (35.000),
from the north of
São Paulo
until Cabo Frío the Tupinambá / Tamoios / Temiminós (60.000) and in the south of Bahía at the
Discovery Coast,
again the Tupiniquim (55.000). The plateau of São Paulo was inhabited
by the Guianás who belonged to the Jês - family.
The different groups communicated in similar languages, which later were jointly
denominated as
tupi - guarani or
língua geral (common language)
by the Jeusit priests.
Those groups were characterized by the practice of horticulture, hunting and fishing,
the constant movement of their villages, intertribal fights including the practice
of cannibalism, polygamy and the inexistence of significant social differentiation
or any institutionalized forms of religion.
The cultivated species varied according to the ecological conditions.
The Tupis, who inhabited the tropical area, concentrated on manioc (cassava),
the Guaranis, who lived in the subtropical region, preferred the maize and
the Jês, who inhabited the plateaus and highlands, cultivated the peanut.
In addition, they planted beans, sweet potatoes, cará (yam), jerimum (pumpkins)
and cumari (pepper).
According to the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics
(IBGE),
approximately 2,4 million indigenous peoples were living in the actual Brazilian territory
at the end of the 16th century. As a consequence of 500 years of European settlement,
including wars, diseases and slavery, this number has decreased significantly.
According to information given by FUNAI,
there are actually around 345.000 natives
in Brazil, distributed over 215 indigenous societies, plus some 55 isolated tribes,
who sum up about 0,2% of the population. At least 180 languages are spoken by
members of these societies.
Source: Brazil, 500 years of settlement (IBGE)
Instituto Camões (Portugal)
