The presence of the Indians in Brazilian territory is long before the occupation process established by the European explorers who landed in our lands. According to data present in some estimates, the Brazilian indigenous population varied between three and five million inhabitants. Among this vast population, we observe the development of heterogeneous civilizations among which we can cite the Xavante, Caribbean, Tupi, Jes and Guaraní.
Generally, access to information about these populations is quite restricted. The lack of written sources and the process of decimation of these cultures ended up limiting the possibilities of studying them. In general, the greatest contact developed between Indians and Europeans took place in the coastal strips of our territory, where indigenous peoples belonging to the Tupi-Guarani group predominate. Despite the various generalizations, reports from the 16th century clarify some habits of this people.
According to these records, the Tupi-Guarani peoples organized villages ranging from 500 to 750 inhabitants. The presence of the village was temporary and its entire contingent was divided between six to ten houses, each one of them could vary in size and length according to the material and cultural needs of each. village. To seek sustenance, the Tupi developed the exploitation of gathering, hunting, fishing and, in some cases, agricultural activities.
From a political point of view, these communities did not have any kind of state organization or political hierarchy that could distinguish their members. Despite this, we cannot ignore that some warriors and spiritual chiefs were valued for the abilities they held. Many times, different tribes kept in contact with each other in order to maintain some cultural ties or because of the proximity of the spoken language.
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The performance of daily tasks could vary according to the gender and age of each member of the village. In short, women had the obligation to develop agricultural activities, manufacture handicraft items, process food and take care of children. Men, on the other hand, should carry out land preparation and hunting and fishing activities. Having another model of family organization, the Indians organized marriages and, in some situations, polygamy was accepted.
In the religious field, some of these people believed in the existence of spirits, in the reincarnation of their ancestors and in the understanding of natural phenomena as deities. In many situations, this corollary of beliefs was a source of explanation for the origin of the world or the occurrence of some significant event. In some cases, the Indians practiced cannibalism as an important ritual in which the tribe's warriors absorbed the strength and skills of captured enemies.
Historically, the situation of the Indians varied between situations of complete abandonment, persecution and misery. Until the middle of the second half of the 20th century, some experts on the subject believed that the presence of the Indians would come to an end. However, stipulated in a population of approximately one million individuals, the indigenous people today seek recognition of their rights by the State and still face major obstacles in the exercise of their autonomy.
By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Brazil School Team
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Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUSA, Rainer Gonçalves. "Indians in Brazil"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiab/indios-brasil.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
