Brazilwood, the first “boom” lasted 4 decades (1510-1550)
Brazilwood-- “brasas” (as in glowing coal) red dye in great demand in Europe
Royal dyewood monopoly established
Natives logged the timber in exchange for knives, axes, and trinkets
Portuguese struggle for justice, slow to begin
- Jesuits--first order to enter Brazil (1548)
- Used the aldeia system to concentrate “peaceful” natives into hamlets
- Left others at the “mercy” of slave-raiders
- 1566--junta to debate the Indian question
- 1570--King Sebastao ruled that Indians on “no account and in no way be enslaved.”