for many years rio would only be known as 'são sebastião', and the current name rio de janeiro would only became widely used in the eighteenth century.

rio de janeiro grew to be crucially important in the 18th century, when it became the shipping port for all gold and trades from minas gerais, in the interior of brazil. throughout the portuguese colonial era, between 1763 and 1822, rio de janeiro was the capital of brazil.

during this period, in part due to its status as capital of brazil, and in part for being a vital center of commerce, rio attracted people from many parts of the world. immigrants from various parts of europe, asia, and the middle east all established activities in the city and in the surrounding areas, giving origin to the culture of assimilation that still now is characteristic of rio de janeiro.