Understanding Historical Negotiations: Brazilian Context

How did the Brazilian negotiators differ from the French and Spanish negotiators in historical contexts?

A. They dealt with non-urbanized tribal groups
B. They had a monarchy that may have been more sympathetic towards them

Answer:

The Brazilian negotiators in the historical context differed as they dealt with non-urbanized tribal groups and had a monarchy that might have been more sympathetic compared to that of the Spanish.

Like the French and Spanish negotiators in the simulated negotiation study, the Brazilian negotiators faced different circumstances compared to their European counterparts. The context of negotiation and contact for Brazilians was not with wealthy, urbanized cultures like in Mexico and Peru with the Aztecs and Incas respectively, but rather with tribal groups, many of which were nomadic or semi-sedentary. Historical accounts indicate that the initial interactions between the Portuguese and the Brazilian natives, like the Tupi people, were "generally peaceful," but eventually led to violent confrontations where the Portuguese resorted to attacking and enslaving the natives in order to subdue them.

Furthermore, the Portuguese monarchy, under King João VI, had a different approach towards Brazil compared to King Fernando VII's approach to Spanish colonies. This difference in royal attitude could imply a difference in the treatment and negotiation with local populations. King João VI was seen as more sympathetic to Brazilian subjects, which might have influenced the negotiation style. Moreover, the Portuguese focus was initially more on dominating trade routes in the Indian Ocean rather than on their possession in Brazil, until external threats like the French Huguenots attempting to establish a colony prompted a greater Portuguese involvement.