Brazil history part V Spain Portugal union

Brazil history part V South brazil occupation 1580 -1640

These developments of sugar and pau brasil were interrupted by events in Europe.When King Sebastian of Portugal died in 1578 withoutleaving a successor, Philip II of Spain succeeded in his claim to the vacant throne in Lisbon. From 1580 to 1640, the two peninsular kingdoms were linked together under the Spanish crown. Thus, by the union of the two countries, the whole of South America became, for that time span, a Spanish possession. Paradoxically, Portugal’s 60 years of union with Spain were to confer unexpected advantages on her transatlantic colony. In the absence of boundaries, both the Portuguese and the Brazilians started penetrating deeper into the vast hinterland.