The geographical development of Rio is marked by an extension out from the
historical Center and the development of three surrounding regions: the
trade-oriented Northern Zone, the posh and touristy Southern Zone, and the newly
developed and modern Western Zone.
The region known as
Brazil was inhabited for thousands of years by indigenous populations who by
some accounts reached the Americas from Asia, by land across Alaska or by sea
along the pacific ocean. These semi-nomadic tribes lived as migrant
hunters-gatherers, and never developed written records or monumental
architecture, therefore not much is known about their history.
To this day, many
places in the Rio de Janeiro area are still named using indigenous words - the
famous beach 'Ipanema' is one example, with 'Ipanema' meaning 'bad waters,' most
likely in reference to fishing. The very word 'Carioca,' used today to indicate
residents of the city of Rio de Janeiro, is derived from the indigenous word
'kari' oca' meaning 'white house' or 'house of the white man.'