In 1500, while en route to India, Pedro Álvares Cabral's fleet sighted and claimed the Brazilian coast for Portugal, marking the beginning of European colonization in South America. This event was significant as it initiated Portugal's extensive territorial claims and exploitation of Brazil's resources, leading to profound cultural, economic, and demographic changes in the region. The colonization also set the stage for the complex interactions between indigenous populations and European settlers.

Cabral's claim over Brazil not only marked a geopolitical shift but also enriched the literary landscape with themes of exploration and colonialism. Poets like Fernando Pessoa later drew on this rich tapestry of discovery, reflecting on identity and the complexities of cultural encounters in their works.