History of Pernambuco

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Terra Brasilis, Miller Atlas, 1519
Pre-Cabraline Indigenous peoples Luzia Kuhikugu Marajoara culture
Colonial Brazil Treaty of Tordesillas Pedro Álvares Cabral's voyage European discovery Letter of Pero Vaz de Caminha Captaincies Brazilwood cycle [pt] Sugar cycle Slavery Slave trade State of Brazil France Antarctique Bandeirantes Jesuit missions Quilombo dos Palmares France Equinoxiale Dutch invasions Dutch Brazil Gold cycle War of the Emboabas Mascate War Vila Rica Revolt Spanish–Portuguese War (1735–1737) Treaty of Madrid Guaraní War Spanish–Portuguese War (1776–1777) Minas Gerais Conspiracy Transfer of the Portuguese court to Brazil Opening of the ports [pt] Invasion of the Banda Oriental
United Kingdom with Portugal Pernambuco Revolt Conquest of French Guiana Conquest of the Banda Oriental Constituent Cortes of 1820
Independence Dia do Fico Declaration of Independence War of Independence Recognition of Independence
Empire of Brazil Reign of Pedro I 1823 Constituent Assembly Night of Agony 1824 Constitution Confederation of the Equator Cisplatine War Abdication of Pedro I Regency Period April Revolt 1834 Additional Act Malê Revolt Cabanagem Ragamuffin War Balaiada Declaration of majority of Pedro II Reign of Pedro II Liberal rebellions of 1842 Praieira revolt Coffee cycle Eusébio de Queirós Law Platine War Christie Affair Uruguayan War Paraguayan War Religious Issue Revolt of the Muckers Grande Seca Abolition of Slavery Post–abolition of slavery
Old Republic Proclamation of the Republic 1891 Constitution Republic of the Sword [pt] Encilhamento Navy Revolts Federalist Revolution Belle Époque Coffee with milk politics Coronelism Amazon rubber boom War of Canudos Annexation of Acre Vaccine Revolt Taubaté Agreement Naval arms race Revolt of the Lash Contestado War World War I Lieutenant revolts
Vargas Era Second Brazilian Republic Revolution of 1930 Constitutionalist Revolution 1934 Constitution Communist uprising of 1935 Estado Novo 1937 Brazilian coup d'état 1937 Constitution Integralist Uprising World War II Ousting of Getúlio Vargas
Populist Republic Lott's preventative coup Construction of Brasília Legality Campaign Plano Trienal
Military dictatorship 1964 Brazilian coup d'état Vacancy in the Presidency AI-5 Araguaia Guerrilla War March of the One Hundred Thousand Brazilian Miracle Redemocratization Diretas Já
New Republic Lost Decade 1988 Constituent Assembly 1988 Constitution Plano Collor Impeachment of Fernando Collor Mercosul 1993 Constitutional referendum Plano Real Mensalão Car Wash investigation Impeachment of Dilma Rousseff Coronavirus pandemic
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The history of Pernambuco can be roughly divided into two periods: first, when the region was a colony of Portugal and, second, when it was a component of the nation of Brazil. Not to be overlooked, however, are the established indigenous peoples of the region, numerous revolts and short-lived independence movements, French incursions, and a Dutch occupation.

Located in the Northeast Region of Brazil, Pernambuco was economically prosperous during its early history, first as a source of dye-wood and then sugar, but later languished becoming today a principal state in Brazil's underdeveloped Northeast Region. Following the expulsion of the Dutch from the region in 1654, there were numerous impediments to the development of the region, including a concentrated system of land ownership, its extensive reliance on a single crop, poor communication and transportation, and intense regionalism. In the late 20th century, the region again experienced some success as it developed an industrial sector and improved communication and transportation reduced the effects of regionalism.