History of Paraíba

The history of Paraíba began before the discovery of Brazil, when the coastline of the state's current territory was populated by the Tabajara and Potiguara indigenous peoples. When the Portuguese arrived, the region was established as part of the Captaincy of Itamaracá. However, there were difficulties in implementing the Portuguese occupation fronts in the area, especially due to the resistance of the natives and the influence of French explorers, who used the coast of Paraíba for the illegal extraction of brazilwood.

As a result of the establishment of sugarcane mills, the region experienced high economic and demographic growth and consolidated itself as one of the northeastern centers of colonial Brazil. After spending a period under Dutch rule, Paraíba returned to Portuguese control in 1654. It became a federal captaincy in 1799, a province of the Empire of Brazil in 1882 and a state of the federation of Brazil in 1889.