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Apr 22, 1500
Portuguese arrival in Brazil
In April 22nd of the year 1500, Portuguese colonisers aboard a large fleet arrived in a place that would later become the country Brazil, and instantly started exploring the land. -
Period: Apr 22, 1500 to
History of Capoeira
Detailed register on how the Capoeira was born, and survived into modern days. -
Period: 1501 to
Creation of Capoeira
At the ends of the sixteenth century, the martial art and dance called Capoeira was created by african slaves and their descendents. It was originated as a mean to both protect the slaves, and keep a little bit of their african roots. As the slave owners did not allow them to practice any type of combat, the slaves modified their old dance style in a way that it could be used as self-defense, but still keeping the traits of a dance, and so Capoeira was born. -
1530
Start of the colonization on the coast
Besides the portuguese arriving in 1500, it was not until 1530 that the governor of Portugal in that time, Dom João II, sent an expedition with the purpose of colonizing the northeast coast of Brazil. And as they started to colonize these areas, they brought slaves from their colonies in Africa, to serve as their principal manpower. -
1580
Approximate date of the creation of Capoeira
First reports of Capoeira in Brazil -
Period: to
Great Repression of the Capoeira
During this era, Capoeira was largely repressed by the government and by the police, with new penalties being added to its practitioners every year. -
Abolition of the slavery / Creation of the Golden Law
In the 13th of May in the year 1888, the brazilian regent princess, Princess Isabel, dispatched the law that would be known as the Golden Law, which made forbidden the practice of slavery over all national land. This is one of the most important moments of the Black brazilian community. -
Period: to
Prohibition and Legalization of Capoeira in the New Republic
Right after the abolition of slavery in 1888 and proclamation of the new Republic, one of the first laws stated by the new government was the prohibition of Capoeira in 1890, with racist motivations behind it. But thankfully it did not lasted much, as in 1937, a new law was stated that canceled the previous one, and now the popularity of Capoeira was rising again. -
Capoeira is oficialized as the national sport of Brasil
in 1953, the National Council of Sports in Brazil dispatched Resolution 071, stating that Capoeira was now the Oficial Brazilian sport and martial art. Before this, there was an episode in Salvador, where one of the pioneers of the diffusion of Capoeira in Brazil, Master Bimba, and some of his students, met with the brazilian president Getúlio Vargas, who would've said:"the only authentically Brazilian collaboration with physical education, which should be considered our national fight". -
Creation of the Capoeira Day in Brazil
In this day, a law was sanctioned stating that from now on, August 3rd would be celebrated as 'the day of the Capoeirista" who is the one who practices Capoeira. This event was very celebrated by the Black community in Brazil as recognition of the importance of Capoeira. -
International Recognition
In November 26th of 2014, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), declared the capoeira circle to be an intangible heritage of humanity. According to the organization, capoeira represents the struggle and resistance of black Brazilians against slavery during the colonial and imperial periods of our history.
