Sugar: sweet for Portuguese, bitter for Indian and African slaves
First introduced in 1526 (Pernambuco)
Labor requirements for sugar cane much greater than for Brazilwood
- Among the Tupi agriculture was women’s work
- Native village governance pattern did not support labor draft system
- Disease (smallpox, 1562) depopulated the villages
- Indian slavery became widely used
Sugar mills, indicate expansion of cane
- 1570 60
- 1600 120
- 1650 350
- 1700 500