Empire of Brazil

historyWikipedia1822–1889 · Brazil

Empire of Brazil

the gist

The Empire of Brazil was a nineteenth-century state covering what is now Brazil and Uruguay, until Uruguay split away in 1828. It was a constitutional monarchy with a parliament, unusual in a region dominated by republics. Its story began when the Portuguese court fled Napoleon's invasion in 1808 and settled in Rio de Janeiro. Pedro I declared independence from Portugal in 1822 and became emperor. After his abdication in 1831, his son Pedro II reigned for decades and brought stability, winning several regional wars. Slavery was gradually restricted and finally abolished in 1888. The monarchy was overthrown in a military coup in November 1889, creating a republic.

so what

Brazil's imperial period explains why it developed differently from its Spanish-speaking neighbours, keeping one large territory and a unified monarchy. The story sits behind many of the country's modern borders and political identity.

fun fact

Brazil was the only monarchy in the Americas for much of the nineteenth century, a fact that sets it apart from its neighbours.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗