The Scramble for the Amazon: Rubber and Ruin

The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History · Oct 16, 2026 · 8m · transcript

While Europe carved up Africa at Berlin, a different kind of empire was rising in the green hell of the Amazon basin. This episode explores the Acre War, where Bolivia and Brazil clashed over rubber-rich territory, and the brutal reality faced by the Seringueiros. We examine how the global demand for latex fueled violence, displacement, and economic collapse in the late 19th century, often overlooked in favor of colonial narratives elsewhere. Discover the story of Plácido de Castro, the caboclo guerrilla leader who fought for Acre’s independence, and the Treaty of Petrópolis that redrew South…