How did Brazil get so big?

Christopher Columbus's discovery of the New World led to a division of the world between Portugal and Spain by the Pope.
Portugal's initial claim in the Americas was expanded in 1494.
A succession crisis in 1580 led to Portugal's throne being taken by the king of Spain, making territorial disputes irrelevant.
The Dutch briefly took control of some Brazilian land in the early 17th century.
Portugal expanded westward and southward in search of gold and slaves.
In 1750, Portugal and Spain renegotiated their agreement, leading to a massive increase in Brazil's territory.
The Napoleonic Wars weakened Spain and led to the Portuguese royal family moving to Brazil.
Brazil expanded further during Spain's faltering grip on the New World.
In 1928, Uruguay became an independent state and Brazil formalized its western and northern borders.
The last major border issue was resolved in 1895 when international arbitration sided with Brazil in a dispute with France.

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