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BRAZIL | Manaus, Brazil Travel Guide
Thursday, January 2, 2025
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A Brief History of Manaus
A Brief History of Manaus
Manaus, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, supplied 90% of the world’s rubber. Rubber barons who lived in the city owned vast plantations and recruited local tribesmen to tap the rubber. But, rather than live on the plantations in slave-like conditions, the tribesmen fled into the jungle. Blacks were then brought from the poorer northeastern states to work on the plantations. The rubber barons (about 100 families) became incredibly wealthy and maintained lavish lifestyles. They hired European architects to build their homes as well as stunning municipal buildings such as the Opera House and Customs Building. Problems arose as the indigenous tribesmen protested the encroachment on their tribal lands. Many were ruthlessly killed.
Manaus' rubber boom lasted only 25 years. In 1876 a British businessman smuggled rubber tree seeds out of Brazil and transported them to Malaysia, where they flourished. Manaus went into a steep decline until the Brazilian government stepped in and created a free trade zone here and gave the city the right to produce light industry items. Which in turn gave rise to Manaus' present-day light industry zone where most of Brazil’s motorcycles and TV sets are manufactured. These changes revitalized the city’s economy and drew more settlers and businesses. Although the freetrade status has been revoked since, the light industry zone has flourished.
Manaus' fortunes, over the years, have risen and fallen with tides of the Amazon River, for the river plays a significant role in the well being of the city. The Rio Negro and the Amazon’s other tributaries serve as the major source of transportation for the area and are its lifeline. You’ll notice that the rivers are as crowded as highways. Although there are local roads, there are no paved highways connecting Manaus to Brazil’s other urban centers.
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