Revisiting Rio De Janeiro and SãO Paulo^*

* A travel grant from the Vassar College Committee on Research permitted fieldwork in Brazil. I also gratefully acknowledge the advice and assistance of Marcos Aspahan, James Curtis, Russell Dover, Katia Brakarz Konarski, Jurandyr Florentino Miguez, and Olyntho Resende at various stages of my research.

Abstract

Contrasting models of urban development characterize the historical‐geographical evolution of Brazil's two leading cities, viewed in an updating of the seminal 1933 article by Preston James. Native to Rio de Janeiro is a distinctive Luso‐Brazilian style of irregular coastal urbanization, whereas SÃo Paulo displays a more uniform, modern type of inland commercial‐industrial expansion. Even as Rio de Janeiro and SÃo Paulo sprawl today to form a virtual megalopolis in southeastern Brazil, they retain distinguishing roles in the national city system. Both metropolises are experiencing increasing functional decentralization and socioeconomic polarization, but in their own characteristic fashions. Generalized models of “Latin American city structure” are of limited value, unless they take into account such significant historical‐geographical variations in urban form.

• Brazil
• historical geography
• Rio de Janeiro
• SÃo Paulo
• urbanization

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Brian J. Godfrey

Dr. Godfrey is a professor of geography at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York 12604–0482.