The Portuguese-Brazilian Bandeirantes: Slavers and Explorers

The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History · May 13, 2026 · 6m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dive into the world of the bandeirantes, the mixed-race frontiersmen from São Paulo who pushed deep into the South American interior in the 17th century. Unlike the Portuguese coastal settlements, the bandeirantes were largely self-sufficient, speaking a Tupi-based lingua franca and relying on indigenous allies. They launched expeditions (bandeiras) that enslaved tens of thousands of indigenous people, sacked Jesuit missions, and eventually discovered gold and diamonds in Minas Gerais. Lucas explains how figures like Antônio Raposo Tavares led epic journeys…