This research paper will delve into the topic of cannibalism in the indigenous tribes of Brazil during the Portuguese colonization of this South American country. My research solely on the subject yielded some very interesting results. Some researchers suggest that cannibalism (in cases involving the Tupinamba tribe and their ritual practices) did not even occur. This is not to say, however, that cannibalism was completely non-existent in Brazil, but rather that it did not occur in the "savage" manner often described. I could easily summarize the accounts of various witnesses to cannibalism, but I will focus on material that primarily discusses the effect that cannibalism had on colonization in Brazil. It could be argued that cannibalism was one of the most important aspects of colonization, "Cannibalism constituted perhaps the most powerful weapon for European control. From the earliest voyages of Christopher Columbus, reports that American Indians practicing cannibalism provided the invaders with easy arguments to legitimize their conquest. The moral imperative to eradicate cannibalism could refute all possible objections raised about the brutalities of death, disease, poverty. of the violence and imprisonment that Europeans inflicted on indigenous peoples.1 The argument could be made that historians' most important tool for understanding interactions through cannibalism is most likely Hans Staden, although this article is not intended to dissect his claims and it is not all about him, he is considered at least a semi-truthful primary source and is one of very few, so his name will appear often. Hans Staden has often been mentioned in our class discussions because his work on the subject of cannibalism is widely considered the only reference...... middle of paper ...... cannibalism will remain unanswered, but the The effect of cannibalism in Brazil is still felt to this day and its importance in colonization is irrefutable. Works CitedConklin, Beth. “IMAGE CONSUMPTION: REPRESENTATIONS OF CANNIBALISM AT THE AMOZONIAN BORDER.” Anthropological quarterly. 70. no. 2 (1997): 68-78. Martel, HE “The captive soul of Hans Staden: identity, imperialism and rumors of cannibalism in 16th century Brazil”. Journal of World History. 17. no. 1 (2006): 51-69. Forsyth, Donald. “THREE Bravo for HANS STADEN: THE CASES OF BRAZILIAN CANNIBALISM.” Ethnohistory. 32. no. 1 (1985). Carroll, Patrick. Ethnic transgression and hybridity in northeastern South America and the Caribbean. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2005.Metcalf, Alida. Intermediaries and the colonization of Brazil. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2005.