ABSTRACT
The discovery and occupation of Brazil took place in the context of the discovery of many new lands world wide. The discovery of gold in the central region of Brazil at the end of the XVII century restored the external determination of the dynamic location of economic activity. The Northeast, which was under a severe crisis, lost its position to the Centre-South which in the phase was the dynamic region. The discovery and occupation of Brazil took place in the context of the discovery of many new lands world wide. To understand the uneven pattern of regional development in Brazil one needs to comprehend how the country came to be formed and the role that each region has played in its formation. It is necessary to analyse the elements responsible for the growth and dynamics of the economy in each particular historical period and how the changes in the dynamic variables influenced the regional patterns of development.
