Expedições Bandeirantes

Expedições Bandeirantes were exploratory journeys undertaken by Portuguese-Portuguese colonizers known as bandeirantes during the 17th and 18th centuries in Brazil. Their primary goal was to expand Portuguese territory, discover valuable resources like gold and precious stones, and capture Indigenous peoples for forced labor. These expeditions played a pivotal role in mapping Brazil's interior and establishing Portuguese dominance, but also resulted in significant displacement, conflict, and cultural disruption among Indigenous communities. Today, they are recognized as a complex part of Brazil’s history, reflecting both exploration and the darker aspects of colonization.