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Salvador da Bahia History
The first human inhabitants of this zone were the Tupinambá natives, who inhabited this region until Europeans arrival in January of 1500; those Europeans were mostly Spaniards and were headed by “Vicente Yañez Pinzon”. Some months after Pinzon arrival on April 21, 1500 a new European expedition leaded by Pedro Alvares Cabral discovered accidentally the actual Bahia's territory, since the expedition went to India, but the fleet decided to change its course to avoid unfavorable currents. This Portuguese expedition called these lands Brasil (Brazil) and they named the site as “Port Seguro” (the place where it is now the city).
Pelourinho Neighborhood
On November 01, 1501 (the all saints holiday), a ship commanded by the Italian navigator Americo Vespuccio (whom America owes its name) arrived for first time to this bay and they named it as the “Todos os Santos” (all Saints) bay in honor to the date; this place is now the actual location of Salvador da Bahia city. After these expeditions, finally the captain “Francisco Pereira Coutinho” founded in 1536 the “Vila Bahia” (old bay) village to defend the new Portuguese territories against French and Dutch.
In 1549 the an important Portuguese fleet commanded by Tomé de Sousa (who was also the first governor of Brazil) was established in Salvador. Because of this fact, Salvador was declared the first capital of the Portuguese empire in America. Tomé de Souza was the main responsible of the capital construction, he ordered the built of the first government palace in the place where now is located the “Rio Branco” palace, one the main vestiges of the Salvador’s past as capital of Brazil. The city became almost immediately the main sea port of the Portuguese empire in America and an important center to the sugar industry and the slave trade in the new World, it believe that almost 1.3 millions slaves were imported from Africa to Bahia until 1888 when slavery was abolished. That explains the great influence of the African culture in the actual lifestyle of Salvador da Bahia and Brazil.
Since that time, Salvador da Bahia city was divided in two parts: the upper city was the main population center, where most houses, administrative and religious centers were located and the lower city; where, it was developed the commercial activities; since there, it was the port and the market. This division continues until today, but several funiculars and elevators like the “Lacerda” elevator have been constructed to connect both zones.
By 1552, Salvador was also seat of the first catholic bishop in Brazil and had a population of 1600 inhabitants; this population was growing quickly year after year, mainly while the city was the capital of the viceroyalty of Grao-Para. Because of this prosperity Salvador was attacked by Dutch in 1624, they captured and sacked the city as well as other north Brazilian ports, until 1625, when Portuguese recovered the control of Brazil.
In 1723 the capital of the viceroyalty was moved to Rio de Janeiro; nevertheless Salvador had still a great influence in the political, cultural and economical live of Brazil. That was demonstrated in 1812 when Salvador was the base of the independence movement; therefore the city was attacked by Portuguese troops, but in 1823 Brazil obatained finally its independence.
But, little by little the city was losing importance; whereas other cities like Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paolo were gaining influence in the country. By 1948 the city had 340 000 inhabitants and was the 4th largest city in Brazil. During XIX and XX centuries the main economical activity in the zone was the agriculture. In 1985 Salvador was declared by UNESCO as World Heritage. Now Salvador da Bahia has around 2.5 millions, being the largest city in the Brazilian northeast and it is a cultural and tourist center. Besides, in the last years new chemical industries and petroleum companies have arrived to the city, producing quickly changes in the urban appearance of Salvador da Bahia and its social establishment.
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