Expansion São Paulo (state)

antónio raposo tavares, colonial bandeirante

among attempted enslave native explorers of hinterland called bandeirantes . base in são paulo, combed interior in search of natural riches. silver, gold , diamonds companion pursuits, exploration of unknown territories. roman catholic missionaries tagged along, efforts @ converting natives aborigines (indians) worked hand in hand portuguese colonialism.

despite atrocities, wild , hardy bandeirantes equally remembered penetrating brazil s vast interior. trading posts established them became permanent settlements. interior routes opened up. though bandeirantes had no loyalty portuguese crown, did claim land king. thus, borders of brazil pushed forward northwest , amazon region , west andes mountains.

french emperor napoleon s invasion of portugal in 1807 prompted british vast powerful royal navy evacuate king joão vi of portugal, portugal s prince regent, capital lisbon, across atlantic rio de janeiro , brazil became first overseas colony become temporary headquarters of portuguese empire. joão vi rewarded hosts economic reforms prove crucial são paulo s rise. brazil s ports—long closed non-portuguese ships—were opened international trade. restrictions on domestic manufacturing waived.

when napoleon defeated in 1815, end of napoleonic wars, joão gave political shape territory, became united kingdom of portugal, brazil , algarves. portugal , brazil, in other words, ostensibly co-equals. returning portugal 6 years later, joão left son, pedro, rule regent , governor.