BrazilBrazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is widely known for football, women, the Brazilian Carnival, the Amazon, and the influential capoeira and samba. Little do people know that the fifth largest nation in the world has much more to offer, surpassed in size by Russia, Canada, China and the United States (Poppino). In a deeper reading of this article, we will briefly discuss the history of Brazil, government and politics, economics, and last but not least, sports culture. Many archaeological sites near Amazonian cities suggest that Tupian-speaking Indians inhabited the coastal lands. from Brazil around 9,000 BC. Farmers, fishermen, and hunter-gatherers diversified communities and expanded in the Amazonian lowlands, while hunter-gatherers predominated in the drier savannahs and highlands (Poppino). Until the arrival of Europeans in the 1500s, more than six million native Indians lived in the region at that time. Before being decimated by European diseases, the Tupians were considered the most important Indian influence in Brazil's early colonial period. Many surviving Indians endured harsh treatment under Portuguese rule. At the time, Portugal was experiencing a major economic failure and was looking to South America as a way out. The possibility of inhabiting secure and fertile lands appealed to this struggling country. Upon arrival, the only thing worth trading was the large quantity of Brazilian trees the land produced. The new inhabitants used what the land produced for them and built houses near the beach which provided them with a stable supply and a convenient transportation route. With the discovery of gold in the early 1690s, Brazil eventually became renowned for its commercial potential and nature...... middle of paper ...... with its unspoilt rainforest and tourist attractions annual, it's not The secret to why their economy is thriving. Rich in culture, resources and an unrivaled fan base, the world will soon recognize Brazil as a global power. Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2014. Web. January 20, 2014. Keet, Andrew. Brazil. No. Internet. January 20, 2014. Hudson, Rex. “Brazil: A Country Study.” . No. Internet. January 20, 2014..Sanchez, Alex. “The Brazilian military is back, as it expands its weaponry and strategies.”.Hemispheric Affairs Council. Internet. January 20 2014.