High Versus Low: Portuguese And Dutch Fortification Traditions Meet In Colonial Brazil (1500–1654)

Portuguese and Dutch fortification traditions clashed in colonial Brazil, revealing distinct strategic approaches to defense. While the Portuguese favored elevated sites like hills for their forts—evident in towns such as São Salvador and Olinda—the Dutch, during their 1630 occupation of Olinda, deliberately avoided this tactic. Their strategy involved leveling the landscape to deny the Portuguese future advantages, resulting in significant destruction. This study highlights how European military traditions shaped colonial urban development and left lasting societal impacts in Brazil.

Hefting, O. F. (2010). High Versus Low: Portuguese And Dutch Fortification Traditions Meet In Colonial Brazil (1500–1654). First Forts, 189–208. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004187542.i-278.76