Brazil : An Economic and Social History from Early Man to the 21st Century This book is the first modern survey of the economic and social history of Brazil from early man to today. Drawing from a wide range of qualitative and quantitative data it provides a comprehensive overview of the major developments that defined the evolution of Brazil. Beginning with the original human settlements in pre Colombian society it moves on to discuss the Portuguese Empire and colonization specifically the importance of slave labor sugar coffee and gold in shaping Brazils economic and societal development. Finally it analyzes the revolutionary changes that have occurred in the past half century transforming Brazil from a primarily rural and illiterate society to an overwhelmingly urban literate and industrial one. Sweeping and influential Herbert S. Klein and Francisco Vidal Lunas synthesis is the first of its kind on Brazil