WI: No Brazil.....
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France and the Netherlands divide up OTL Brazil for themselves. The Dutch had settlements in the north and France in the south. Without Portugal, these settlements would be allowed to expand.
And what exactly is Spain doing in all of this? A huge chunk of Southern Brazil is part of the Paraná watershed which empties into the River Plate, while there's also a part of Western Brazil which borders Amazonian Peru. If humble little Portugal manage to muscle out the Dutch and the French from Brazil, why wouldn't a Spain at the height of its power manage something similar?
I could see Spain keeping more but they would hardly bother to occupy the whole of Brazil.
The fact that Spain controls the other half of South America doesn't give it much of an edge since there are many natural obstacles between these two halves. Spain could claim the whole continent but - unless gold is found in Brazil fast - they wouldn't bother to invest as much in that part of the continent. They'd be driven out quickly by someone else more interested.
The area around Rio de Janeiro is colonized by France, as is Maranhão, but I'm not sure about the Dutch in the Northeast.
The Dutch will move in to the coastal regions. The interior, namely the Amazon Basin might be claimed by the Dutch, but nothing would be done with it. There's a reason Spain let Portugal keep that jungle full of hostile natives... considering they conquered other hostile natives, I'm going to guess that there were no riches to plunder.
I think the question is: what happens in Northeast during the 16th century? The Dutch only tried to conquer that area because the Portuguese had already stablished that region as a very profitable sugarcane producing area. Also, they only started to expand there in a later period (after 1620). If there is no Portuguese presence there between 1500-1620, who occupied that? And would these colonizers try to stablish sugarcane plantations as well?
Also, I suppose that "no Portuguese" Brazil means that the Portuguese also failed to reach India. Northeast Brazil was a very strategical place for the ships that made the "volta do mar" avoiding the navigation close to African shores, and so if the Portuguese need to go to India they would surely have a presence in Northern Brazil, even if minimal.
Also, I suppose that "no Portuguese" Brazil means that the Portuguese also failed to reach India. Northeast Brazil was a very strategical place for the ships that made the "volta do mar" avoiding the navigation close to African shores, and so if the Portuguese need to go to India they would surely have a presence in Northern Brazil, even if minimal.
My guess is that Spain would occupy a good part of the Parana River Basin.
OTL Rio Grande do Sul and southern / western Santa Catarina are natural extensions of the Argentinean / Uruguyan Pampas so it would be natural for those parts to become future provinces of the Virreinato del Rio de la Plata.
Further north, Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul and southern Sao Paulo would become parts of an enlarged Paraguay, heavily influenced by the Jesuits in their colonial province of the Guayra.....my guess is that the border between the Spanish colonies and other European colonies (ex: French in Rio de Janeiro) would be the Tiete River in the middle of OTL Sao Paulo Sate or somewhere near that
OTL Rio Grande do Sul and southern / western Santa Catarina are natural extensions of the Argentinean / Uruguyan Pampas so it would be natural for those parts to become future provinces of the Virreinato del Rio de la Plata.
Further north, Parana, Mato Grosso do Sul and southern Sao Paulo would become parts of an enlarged Paraguay, heavily influenced by the Jesuits in their colonial province of the Guayra.....my guess is that the border between the Spanish colonies and other European colonies (ex: French in Rio de Janeiro) would be the Tiete River in the middle of OTL Sao Paulo Sate or somewhere near that
No Pele,no Ronaldo,no Neymar. European football would be as boring as watching paint dry.
The French colony in Brazil was established as a haven for Huguenots. If it's successful (the removal of the Portuguese is not enough-there's still a lot that can go wrong for that colony) it could provide an outlet for Calvinist settlement not only from France, but from other parts of Europe. In France this could make the Wars of Religion a little less drawn out and serious-a lot of people may decide to go to Brazil instead of fighting it out.
If the colony is successful, Catholic settlers will probably start coming as well. This may result in the colony being split at the request of the Calvinists, so that they're not overwhelmed by the 'enemy' religion. Ironically, this will make them more loyal to the Catholic motherland-they need it to adjudicate in their disagreements with the Catholic colonies.
Finally, 'Antarctica' will be the name of the colony and any countries that come from it (France Antarctique), meaning that our southern continent will have another name ITTL.
If the colony is successful, Catholic settlers will probably start coming as well. This may result in the colony being split at the request of the Calvinists, so that they're not overwhelmed by the 'enemy' religion. Ironically, this will make them more loyal to the Catholic motherland-they need it to adjudicate in their disagreements with the Catholic colonies.
Finally, 'Antarctica' will be the name of the colony and any countries that come from it (France Antarctique), meaning that our southern continent will have another name ITTL.
I think France and Spain, and later the Netherlands would probably divide it up. For France if there is no Treaty of Tordisillas than perhaps some one like Jean Fleury, might think of following the Spanish west and settling a French colony. For Spain they would probably claim the entirety of the Amazonian basin, which would mean little except probably sending down some missionaries and a fort or two.
The Portuguese might better colonise Angola, or Guinea Bissao or maybe even the cape colony.
The Portuguese might better colonise Angola, or Guinea Bissao or maybe even the cape colony.
I don't think anyone outside of Spain and Portugal themselves really cared about the Treaty of Tordesillas, and even those two powers didn't abide by it 100%
Now there's an interesting idea. A Cape Colony would actually really benefit the Portuguese (better defense of the passage to the Indies) and could produce a very interesting wine-growing Mestizo Portuguese culture.
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