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Portugal


 
 
Portugal
The land within the borders of today's Portuguese Republic has been continuously settled since prehistoric timesPrehistoric Iberia

The Prehistory of the Iberian peninsula begins with the arrival of the first hominins c.900,000 Before Present  an...
. Some of the earliest civilizationCivilization

The word civilization has a variety of meanings related to human society....
s include LusitaniansLusitanians

The Lusitanians were a tribe, or various tribes, from the western Iberian peninsula, which became the Roman province of Lusi...
 and CeltCelt

The term Celt, normally pronounced // , refers to a member of any of a number of peoples in Europe using the Celtic lang...
ic societies. Incorporation into the Roman RepublicRoman Republic Summary

The Roman Republic was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a republican form of government....
 dominions took place in the 2nd century BC. The region was ruled and colonized by Germanic peoplesGermanic peoples

The Germanic peoples are groups of people identified by their use of the Germanic languages that are descended from Proto-Ge...
, such as the SuebiSuebi

The Suebi or Suevi were Elbe-Germanics whose origin was near the Baltic Sea....
 and the Visigoths, from the 5th to the 8th century. From this era, some vestiges of the AlansAlans

The Alans or Alani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of varied b...
 were also found. The MuslimMuslim

A Muslim is an adherent of Islam....
 MoorsMoors

The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus and the Maghreb and western Africa, whose culture is often cal...
 arrived in the early 8th century and conquered the ChristianChristian

A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ....
 Germanic kingdomsTimeline of Portuguese history (Germanic Kingdoms)

This is a historical timeline of Portugal....
, eventually occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula. In the early 1100s, during the Christian ReconquistaReconquista

The Reconquista was the process by which the Christian Kingdoms of northern Hispania defeated and expelled the souther...
, Portugal appeared as a kingdom independent of its neighbour, the Kingdom of LeónKingdom of León

The city of Len was founded by the Roman Seventh Legion ...
 and GaliciaKingdom of Galicia

The Kingdom of Galicia was a medieval kingdom in Iberia for two distinct periods....
. In a little over a century, in 1249, Portugal would establish almost its entire modern-day borders by conquering territory from the Moors.

During the 15th15th century Summary

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500....
 and 16th16th century

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600....
 centuries, with a global empirePortuguese Empire

The Portuguese Empire was the first Global empire in history and also the earliest and longest lived of the western european...
 that included possessions in AfricaAfrica

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth....
, AsiaAsia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition....
 and South AmericaSouth America

South America is a continent situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, bordered on the west b...
, Portugal was one of the world's major economic, political, and cultural powers.






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Timeline

388   Paternus becomes bishop of the Episcopal see of Braga (in modern Portugal).

409   The Vandals, Alans and Suevi break through Constantine III's garrisons into Hispania. They share the Iberian Peninsula by drawing lots, with the Vandals getting Hispania Baetica (modern Andalusia), the Suevi Gallaecia (modern Galicia and northern Portugal) and the Alans Lusitania (the rest of modern Portugal and Spanish Extremadura).

411   The Alans establish their rule in the Roman province of Lusitania (modern Portugal south of the Douro River and Spanish Extremadura).

428   Hydatius becomes bishop of ''Aquae Flaviae'' in Gallaecia (modern Chaves in Portugal).

693   The Portuguese sity of Viseu was taken from the Romans by the Moors=

718   Pelayo defeats the Arabs at Covadonga and establishes the Kingdom of Asturias in the Iberian peninsula (modern day Portugal and Spain) in a victory that was later considered to be the beginning of the Reconquista.

868   Establishment of the First County of Portugal, by Vímara Peres, after the reconquest from the Moors of the region north of the Douro river.

953   Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal appears, for the first time, as a Portuguese town under the name Villa Euracini.

1065   Independence of the kingdom of Galicia and Portugal under the rule of Garcia ''

1093   Henry of Burgundy become Count of Portugal







Encyclopedia


Portugal
The land within the borders of today's Portuguese Republic has been continuously settled since prehistoric timesPrehistoric Iberia

The Prehistory of the Iberian peninsula begins with the arrival of the first hominins c.900,000 Before Present  an...
. Some of the earliest civilizationCivilization

The word civilization has a variety of meanings related to human society....
s include LusitaniansLusitanians

The Lusitanians were a tribe, or various tribes, from the western Iberian peninsula, which became the Roman province of Lusi...
 and CeltCelt

The term Celt, normally pronounced // , refers to a member of any of a number of peoples in Europe using the Celtic lang...
ic societies. Incorporation into the Roman RepublicRoman Republic Summary

The Roman Republic was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a republican form of government....
 dominions took place in the 2nd century BC. The region was ruled and colonized by Germanic peoplesGermanic peoples

The Germanic peoples are groups of people identified by their use of the Germanic languages that are descended from Proto-Ge...
, such as the SuebiSuebi

The Suebi or Suevi were Elbe-Germanics whose origin was near the Baltic Sea....
 and the Visigoths, from the 5th to the 8th century. From this era, some vestiges of the AlansAlans

The Alans or Alani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of varied b...
 were also found. The MuslimMuslim

A Muslim is an adherent of Islam....
 MoorsMoors

The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus and the Maghreb and western Africa, whose culture is often cal...
 arrived in the early 8th century and conquered the ChristianChristian

A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ....
 Germanic kingdomsTimeline of Portuguese history (Germanic Kingdoms)

This is a historical timeline of Portugal....
, eventually occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula. In the early 1100s, during the Christian ReconquistaReconquista

The Reconquista was the process by which the Christian Kingdoms of northern Hispania defeated and expelled the souther...
, Portugal appeared as a kingdom independent of its neighbour, the Kingdom of LeónKingdom of León

The city of Len was founded by the Roman Seventh Legion ...
 and GaliciaKingdom of Galicia

The Kingdom of Galicia was a medieval kingdom in Iberia for two distinct periods....
. In a little over a century, in 1249, Portugal would establish almost its entire modern-day borders by conquering territory from the Moors.

During the 15th15th century Summary

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500....
 and 16th16th century

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600....
 centuries, with a global empirePortuguese Empire

The Portuguese Empire was the first Global empire in history and also the earliest and longest lived of the western european...
 that included possessions in AfricaAfrica

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth....
, AsiaAsia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition....
 and South AmericaSouth America

South America is a continent situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, bordered on the west b...
, Portugal was one of the world's major economic, political, and cultural powers. In the 17th century17th century

As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700 in the Gregorian ...
, the Portuguese Restoration WarPortuguese Restoration War

Portuguese Restoration War is the war between Portugal and Spain after the revolt of December 1640....
 between Portugal and Spain ended the sixty year period of the Iberian UnionIberian Union

Iberian Union is modern day term that refers to the historical political unit that governed all of the Iberian peninsula sou...
 (1580-1640). In the 19th century, armed conflict with French and Spanish invading forces and the loss of its largest territorial possession abroad, BrazilFacts About Brazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest and most populous country in South America, and ...
, disrupted political stability and potential economic growth. After the Portuguese Colonial WarPortuguese Colonial War

The Portuguese Colonial War, Ultramar War or, among some guerrilla sympathizers, Guinea-Bissauan Revolution, was...
 and the Carnation RevolutionCarnation Revolution

The Carnation Revolution was an almost bloodless, leftist, military-led coup d'tat, started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon, Po...
 coup d'étatCoup d'état Summary

A coup d'tat , or simply coup, is the sudden overthrow of a government through unconstitutional means by a part of the...
 in 1974, the ruling regimeEstado Novo (Portugal)

Estado Novo?'tadu 'novu}}) is the name of the Portuguese conservative authoritarian regime installed in 1933, following the ...
 was deposed in Lisbon and the country handed over its last overseas provinces in Africa. Portugal's last overseas territory, MacauMacau

The Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , commonly known as Macau or Macao is...
, was handed over to ChinaPeople's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country in East Asia....
 in 1999.

Portugal is a developed countryDeveloped country

A developed country is one that has a high income per capita....
, has a high Human Development IndexHuman Development Index

The UN Human Development Index is a comparative measure of poverty, literacy, education, life expectancy, childbirth, and ot...
 and is among the world's 20 highest rated countries in terms of quality of lifeQuality of life

The well-being or quality of life of a population is an important concern in economics and political science....
, although having the lowest GDP per capita of Western EuropeWestern Europe

Western Europe is mainly a socio-political concept coined, forged and used during the Cold War....
an countries. It is a member of the European UnionEuropean Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states....
 (since 1986) and the United NationsUnited Nations

name = United NationsNations Unies...
 (since 1955); as well as a founding member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international organisation of those developed countries tha...
 (OECD), North Atlantic Treaty OrganizationNATO

Aznar also proposed a strategic co-operation with India and Colombia. ...
, Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa, European Union's EurozoneEurozone

The Eurozone is the subset of European Union member states which have adopted the euro, creating a currency union....
, and is also a SchengenSchengen Agreement

The 1985 Schengen Agreement is an agreement among European states which allows for common policy on the temporary entry of p...
 state. Acording to the Global Peace IndexGlobal Peace Index

The Global Peace Index is an attempt to measure the relative position of nations? and regions? peacefulness....
, Portugal is the 7th most peaceful country in the world, only behind Iceland, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Japan and Ireland.

History


The early history of Portugal, whose name derives from the Roman name Portus CalePortus Cale

Portus Cale was the old name of an ancient town and port in current day Portugal....
, is shared with the rest of the Iberian PeninsulaIberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe....
. The region was settledPre-Roman peoples of the Iberian Peninsula

This is a list of the Pre-Roman peoples of the Iberian peninsula . ...
 by Pre-Celts and Celts, giving origin to peoples like the Gallaeci, LusitaniansFacts About Lusitanians

The Lusitanians were a tribe, or various tribes, from the western Iberian peninsula, which became the Roman province of Lusi...
, CelticiCeltici

The Celtici were an ancient Celtic tribe of Lusitania, akin either to the Lusitanians and Gallaecians or the Celtiberians, l...
 and CynetesCynetes

The Cynetes or Conii were a people living in today's Algarve and Low Alentejo regions of southern Portugal before the ...
, visited by Phoenicians and Carthaginians, incorporated in the Roman RepublicRoman Republic

The Roman Republic was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by a republican form of government....
 dominions (as LusitaniaLusitania

Lusitania was an ancient Roman province approximately including current Portugal, except for the area between the rivers Dou...
 in 138 BC), settled again by Suevi, BuriBuri (Germanic tribe)

The Buri first appear in history as a Germanic tribe mentioned in the Germania of Tacitus, where they "close the back" of th...
, and Visigoths, and conquered by MoorsMoors

The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus and the Maghreb and western Africa, whose culture is often cal...
. Other minor influences include some 5th century vestiges of AlanAlans Summary

The Alans or Alani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of varied b...
 settlement, which were found in AlenquerAlenquer

Alenquer is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 304.2 km² and a total population of 42,932 inhabitants....
, CoimbraCoimbra

Coimbra is a city and a municipality in Portugal....
 and even LisbonLisbon Overview

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal....
. In 868, during the ReconquistaReconquista

The Reconquista was the process by which the Christian Kingdoms of northern Hispania defeated and expelled the souther...
 (by which Christians reconquered the Iberian peninsula from the Muslim and Moorish domination), the First County of PortugalFirst County of Portugal

The First County of Portugal. ...
 was formed. A victory over the Muslims at OuriqueOurique

Ourique is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 663.4 km² and a total population of 5,842 inhabitants....
 in 1139 is traditionally taken as the occasion when Portugal is transformed from a county into an independent kingdom.

On June 24 1128, the Battle of São MamedeBattle of São Mamede

The Battle of S?o Mamede took place on June 24, 1128 and is considered the seminal event for the foundation of Portugal....
 occurred near GuimarãesGuimarães

Guimares is a city and municipality in northwestern Portugal in the province of Minho and in the district of Braga....
. At the Battle of São Mamede, Afonso HenriquesAfonso I of Portugal

Afonso I of Portugal , more commonly known as Afonso Henriques , or also Affonso , Alfonso or Alphonso or...
, Count of Portugal, defeated his mother, Countess Teresa, and her lover, Fernão Peres de TravaFernão Peres de Trava

Fern?o Peres de Trava was a Galician nobleman....
, in battle - thereby establishing himself as sole leader. Afonso Henriques officially declared Portugal's independence when he proclaimed himself king of PortugalList of Portuguese monarchs

This is a list of Portuguese monarchs dating from the independence of Portugal from the kingdom of Len in 1128 under Afonso ...
 on July 25, 1139, after the Battle of OuriqueBattle of Ourique

The Battle of Ourique took place in July 25 1139, probably in the countryside outside the town of Ourique, present-day Alent...
, he was recognized as such in 1143 by Afonso VIIFacts About Alfonso VII of León

Alfonso VII, called the Emperor, became the King of Galicia in 1111 and King of Len and Castile in 1126....
, king of León and Castile, and in 1179 by Pope Alexander IIIPope Alexander III

Pope Alexander III , born Orlando Bandinelli, was Pope from 1159 to 1181....
.

Afonso Henriques and his successors, aided by military monastic ordersChristian monasticism

Monasticism in Christianity is a family of similar traditions that began to develop early in the history of the Christian Church, ...
, pushed southward to drive out the Moors, as the size of Portugal covered about half of its present area. In 1249, this ReconquistaReconquista

The Reconquista was the process by which the Christian Kingdoms of northern Hispania defeated and expelled the souther...
 ended with the capture of the AlgarveAlgarve

* Alcoutim* Aljezur* Castro Marim* Faro...
 on the southern coast, giving Portugal its present day borders, with minor exceptions.

In 1373, Portugal made an alliance with EnglandAnglo-Portuguese Alliance

The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance between England and Portugal is the oldest alliance in the world which is still in force....
, which is the longest-standing alliance in the world.

In 1383, the king of Castile, husband of the daughter of the Portuguese king who had died without a male heir, claimed his throne. An ensuing popular revolt led to the 1383-1385 Crisis. A faction of petty noblemen and commoners, led by John of Aviz (later John IJohn I of Portugal

Joo I of Portugal KG, in English, John I was the 10th king of Portugal and Algarve and the first to use the title Lord...
), seconded by General Nuno Álvares PereiraFacts About Nuno Álvares Pereira

Blessed Nuno lvares Pereira, O. Carm....
 defeated the Castilians in the Battle of AljubarrotaBattle of Aljubarrota

The Battle of Aljubarrota took place on August 14 1385, between Portuguese forces commanded by King Joo I and his general Nu...
. This celebrated battle is still a symbol of glory and the struggle for independence from neighboring Spain.

In the following decades, Portugal spearheaded the exploration of the world and undertook the Age of DiscoveryFacts About Portugal in the Age of Discovery

Portugal in the period of discoveries discovered an eastern route to India that doubled the Cape of Good Hope....
. Prince Henry the NavigatorHenry the Navigator

Infante Henrique, Duke of Viseu KG ; pron....
, son of King João I, became the main sponsor and patron of this endeavor.

In 1415, Portugal gained the first of its overseas colonies when a fleet conquered CeutaCeuta

Ceuta is a Spanish exclave in North Africa, located on the Mediterranean, on the southern coast of the Strait of Gibraltar, ...
, a prosperous Islamic trade center in North AfricaAfrica

Africa is one of the greatest sized continents of the Earth....
. There followed the first discoveries in the Atlantic: MadeiraMadeira

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean that lies between and ....
 and the AzoresAzores

The Azores are an archipelago of Portuguese islands in the middle of the northern Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisb...
, which led to the first colonizationColonialism

See colony and colonisation for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism....
 movements.


Throughout the 15th century, Portuguese explorersEuropean exploration of Africa

European exploration of Africa began with Ancient Greeks and Romans, that explored and settled in North Africa....
 sailed the coast of Africa, establishing trading posts for several common types of tradable commodities at the time, ranging from gold to slavesEconomic history of Portugal

This article covers the economic history of Portugal. ...
, as they looked for a route to India and its spices, which were coveted in Europe. In 1498, Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama...
 finally reached India and brought economic prosperity to Portugal and its then population of one million residents.

In 1500, Pedro Álvares CabralPedro Álvares Cabral

Pedro lvares Cabral, pron. in EP, [] in BP, was a Portuguese navigator and explorer, generally regarded as first European d...
, en route to India, discovered BrazilBrazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest and most populous country in South America, and ...
 and claimed it for Portugal. Ten years later, Afonso de AlbuquerqueAfonso de Albuquerque

Afonso de Albuquerque, Afonso d'Albuquerque or Alfonso de Albuquerque was a Portuguese naval general whose ac...
 conquered GoaGoa

Goa is India's second smallest state in terms of area after Delhi and the fourth smallest in terms of population after Sikk...
, in IndiaIndia Overview

India , officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia....
, Ormuz in the Persian Strait, and MalaccaMalacca

Malacca , dubbed as Negeri Bersejarah or Negeri Hang Tuah is the second smallest state in Malaysia....
 in what is now a stateState

A state is a set of institutions that possess the authority to make the rules that govern the people in one or more societie...
 in MalaysiaMalaysia

Malaysia is a federation of 13 states in Southeast Asia, formed in 1963....
. Thus, the Portuguese empire held dominion over commerce in the Indian OceanFacts About Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest body of water in the world, covering about 20% of the Earth's water surface....
 and South Atlantic. The Portuguese sailors set out to reach Eastern Asia by sailing eastward from Europe landing in such places like TaiwanTaiwan

Taiwan is an island in East Asia, but the term "Taiwan" is also commonly used to collectively refer to the territories gove...
, JapanJapan Summary

is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of China, Korea, and Russia, stretching from...
, the island of TimorTimor

Timor is an island at the south end of the Malay Archipelago, divided between the independent state of East Timor, and West ...
, and it may also have been Portuguese sailors that were the first Europeans to discover AustraliaAustralia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland o...
.

Portugal's independence was interrupted between 1580 and 1640. Because the heirless King Sebastian died in battle in Morocco, Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain

Philip II was the first official King of Spain from 1556 until 1598, king of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until 1598, King ...
 claimed his throne and so became Philip I of Portugal. Although Portugal did not lose its formal independence, it was governed by the same monarch who governed SpainSpanish Empire

The Spanish Empire was the first truly global empire....
, briefly forming a unionIberian Union Summary

Iberian Union is modern day term that refers to the historical political unit that governed all of the Iberian peninsula sou...
 of kingdoms, as a personal unionPersonal union Overview

A personal union is a relationship of two or more entities that are considered separate, sovereign states, which, through es...
; in 1640, John IVJohn IV of Portugal

John IV of Portugal was the king of Portugal and Algarves from 1640 to his death....
 spearheaded an uprising backed by disgruntled nobles and was proclaimed king. The Portuguese Restoration WarPortuguese Restoration War

Portuguese Restoration War is the war between Portugal and Spain after the revolt of December 1640....
 between Portugal and Spain on the aftermath of the 1640 revolt, ended the sixty-year period of the Iberian UnionIberian Union

Iberian Union is modern day term that refers to the historical political unit that governed all of the Iberian peninsula sou...
 under the House of Habsburg. This was the beginning of the House of BraganzaHouse of Braganza

The House of Bragança is the name of a royal house, which ruled Portugal from 1640 to 1910 and the Empire of Brazil from 182...
, which was to reign in Portugal until 1910. On 1 November 1755, LisbonLisbon

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal....
, the largest city and capital of the Portuguese Empire, was strongly shaken by an earthquake1755 Lisbon earthquake

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake took place on November 1, 1755, at 9:20 in the morning....
 which killed between 60,000 and 90,000 people and destroyed eighty-five percent of the city.

By this time, however, the Portuguese empirePortuguese Empire

The Portuguese Empire was the first Global empire in history and also the earliest and longest lived of the western european...
 was already under attack from other countries, specifically Britain and the Netherlands. Portugal began a slow but inexorable decline until the 20th century. This decline was hastened by the independence in 1822 of the country's largest colonial possession, BrazilBrazil

Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest and most populous country in South America, and ...
.

At the height of European colonialismColonialism

See colony and colonisation for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism....
 in the 19th century, Portugal had lost its territory in South AmericaSouth America Summary

South America is a continent situated in the western hemisphere and, mostly, the southern hemisphere, bordered on the west b...
 and all but a few bases in Asia. During this phase, Portuguese colonialism focused on expanding its outposts in Africa into nation-sized territories to compete with other European powers there. Portuguese territories eventually included the modern nations of Cape VerdeCape Verde

The Republic of Cape Verde or Cape Verde is a republic located on an archipelago in the Macaronesia ecoregion of the ...
, São Tomé and PríncipeSão Tomé and Príncipe

So Tom and Prncipe}}/), officially the Democratic Republic of So Tom and Prncipe, is an island nation in the Gulf of G...
, Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau Overview

Guinea-Bissau, officially the Republic of Guinea-Bissau , is a country in western Africa, and one of the smallest nati...
, AngolaAngola

Angola is a country in south-west Africa bordering Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia, and with a wes...
, and MozambiqueMozambique

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordering to the Indian Ocean ...
.

In 1910, a revolution deposed the Portuguese monarchy, but chaos continued and considerable economic problems were aggravated by the military intervention in World War I, which led to a military coup d'état in 1926. This in turn led to the establishment of the right-wing dictatorship of the Estado NovoEstado Novo (Portugal)

Estado Novo?'tadu 'novu}}) is the name of the Portuguese conservative authoritarian regime installed in 1933, following the ...
 under António de Oliveira SalazarAntónio de Oliveira Salazar

Antnio de Oliveira Salazar was the President of the Council of Ministers of Portugal and the de facto dictator of the Po...
.

In December 1961, the Portuguese army was involved in armed action in its colony of Portuguese IndiaPortuguese India Overview

Portuguese India was the aggregate of Portugal's colonial holdings in India....
 against an Indian invasion. The operations resulted in the defeat of the isolated and relatively small Portuguese defense force which was not able to resist a much larger enemy. The outcome was the loss of the Portuguese territories in the Indian subcontinentIndian subcontinent

The Indian subcontinent is a peninsula landmass of the Asian continent occupying the Indian Plate and extending into the Ind...
.

Also in the early 1960s, independence movements in the Portuguese overseas provinces of AngolaAngola

Angola is a country in south-west Africa bordering Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia, and with a wes...
, MozambiqueFacts About Mozambique

Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordering to the Indian Ocean ...
, and Portuguese GuineaPortuguese Guinea

Portuguese Guinea was the name for what is today Guinea-Bissau from 1446 to September 10, 1974....
, in Africa, resulted in the Portuguese Colonial WarPortuguese Colonial War

The Portuguese Colonial War, Ultramar War or, among some guerrilla sympathizers, Guinea-Bissauan Revolution, was...
 (1961-1974). In 1974, a bloodless left-wing military coup in LisbonLisbon

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal....
, known as the Carnation RevolutionCarnation Revolution

The Carnation Revolution was an almost bloodless, leftist, military-led coup d'tat, started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon, Po...
, led the way for a modern democracy as well as the independence of the last colonies in Africa shortly after. However, Portugal's last overseas territory, MacauMacau Overview

The Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China , commonly known as Macau or Macao is...
 (Asia), was not handed over to the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China

The People's Republic of China , is a country in East Asia....
 until as late as 1999.

Portugal was a founding member of NATONATO

Aznar also proposed a strategic co-operation with India and Colombia. ...
, OECD and EFTA. In 1986, Portugal joined the European UnionEuropean Union Summary

The European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states....
 (then the European Economic CommunityEuropean Economic Community

The European Economic Community was an international organisation created in 1957 to bring about economic integration betwe...
). Portugal was one of the founding countries of the euroEuro

The euro is the official currency of the European Union member states of Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece...
 in 1999 and is integrated into the EurozoneEurozone

The Eurozone is the subset of European Union member states which have adopted the euro, creating a currency union....
. It is also a co-founder of the Community of Portuguese Language CountriesCommunity of Portuguese Language Countries

The Community of Portuguese Language Countries is a multilateral forum for mutual friendship between the lusophone nations a...
 (CPLP).

Administrative divisions



Portugal has an administrative structure of 308 municipalitiesMunicipalities of Portugal

In Portugal, municipality or concelho is most stable subdivision of Portugal since the foundation of the country....
 (Portuguese singular/plural: concelho/concelhos), which are subdivided into more than 4,000 parishesFreguesia

Freguesia is a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and in the former Portuguese Empire, and a former seconda...
 (freguesia/freguesias). Municipalities are grouped for administrative purposes into superior units. For continental Portugal the municipalities are gathered in 18 Districts, while the Islands have a Regional Government directly above them. Thus, the largest unit of classification is the one established since 1976 into either mainland Portugal (Portugal Continental) or the autonomous regions of PortugalFacts About Autonomous regions of Portugal

The two Autonomous Regions of Portugal are the Azores and Madeira....
.

The European UnionFacts About European Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states....
's system of Nomenclature of Territorial Units for StatisticsNomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics

The Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics is a geocode standard for referencing the administrative division of co...
 is also used. According to this system, Portugal is divided into 7 regions, which are subdivided into 30 subregions.

Geography and climate



The climate can be classified as MediterraneanMediterranean climate

A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles those of the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea....
 type csa in the south and csb in the north, according to the Köppen climate classificationKöppen climate classification

The Kppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems....
. Portugal is one of the warmest European countries, the annual temperature averages in mainland Portugal are 13 °C (55 °F) in the north and 18 °C (64 °F) in the south. The MadeiraMadeira

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean that lies between and ....
 and AzoresAzores

The Azores are an archipelago of Portuguese islands in the middle of the northern Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisb...
 Atlantic archipelagos have a narrower temperature range. Generally, spring and summer are sunny, whereas autumn and winter are rainy and windy.
Extreme temperatures occur in Northeastern parts of the country in winter (where they may fall to -15 °C) and Southeastern parts in summer (where they can soar up to 45 °C). Sea coastal areas are milder, temperatures varying between -2 °C on the coldest winter mornings and 40 °C on the hottest summer afternoons. Absolute extremes registered so far have been -23 °C in Serra da EstrelaSerra da Estrela

Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain range in Portugal and includes mainland Portugal's highest peak, which has a natura...
 and 48 °C in the AlentejoAlentejo

Alentejo is a south-central region of Portugal....
 region.

Mainland PortugalContinental Portugal

Continental Portugal or Mainland Portugal is the designation of the mainland Portuguese territory, located on Europe's...
 is split by its main river, the TagusFacts About Tagus

Tagus is the largest river on the Iberian Peninsula....
. The northern landscape is mountainous in the interior areas, with plateaus indented by river valleys. The south, between the TagusTagus

Tagus is the largest river on the Iberian Peninsula....
 and the AlgarveAlgarve

* Alcoutim* Aljezur* Castro Marim* Faro...
 (the AlentejoAlentejo

Alentejo is a south-central region of Portugal....
), features mostly rolling plains and a climate somewhat warmer and drier than in the cooler and rainier north. The AlgarveAlgarve

* Alcoutim* Aljezur* Castro Marim* Faro...
, separated from the AlentejoFacts About Alentejo

Alentejo is a south-central region of Portugal....
 by mountains, enjoys a Mediterranean climateMediterranean climate

A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles those of the lands bordering the Mediterranean Sea....
 much like southern Spain. SnowSnow

Snow is precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes....
 falls occasionally (on some cold winter days) in the northern interior of the country, from October to May. However, it is a very rare event in the south. The coast registers snow usually once in five or six years.


The islands of the Azores are located in the Mid-Atlantic RidgeMid-Atlantic Ridge Overview

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a mostly underwater mountain range of the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean that runs from 87N to su...
 whilst the Madeira islands were formed by the activity of an in-platePlate tectonics

Plate tectonics is a theory of geology developed to explain the observed evidence for large scale motions within the Earth'...
 hotspotHotspot (geology)

In geology, a hotspot is a location on the Earth's surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period of time....
, much like the Hawaiian archipelagoHawaii Overview

Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959....
. Some islands have had volcanic activity as recently as 1957. Portugal's highest point is Mount PicoMount Pico Summary

Mount Pico is a volcano and the highest point on Pico Island in the Azores, a chain of volcanic islands off the coast of Por...
 on Pico IslandPico Island

Pico Island is an island of the Azores noted for its eponymous volcano, Ponta de Pico , which is the highest mountain of Por...
. It is an ancient volcano measuring 2,351 m (7,713 ft). Mainland PortugalContinental Portugal Overview

Continental Portugal or Mainland Portugal is the designation of the mainland Portuguese territory, located on Europe's...
's highest point is Serra da EstrelaSerra da Estrela

Serra da Estrela is the highest mountain range in Portugal and includes mainland Portugal's highest peak, which has a natura...
, measuring 1993 m (6,558 ft).

Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone, a seazone over which the Portuguese have special rights over the exploration and use of marine resources, has 1,727,408 km². This is the 3rd largest Exclusive Economic ZoneExclusive Economic Zone

Under the law of the sea, an Exclusive Economic Zone is a seazone over which a state has special rights over the exploration...
 of the European UnionEuropean Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states....
 and the 11th in the world.

Conservation areas of PortugalConservation areas of Portugal

Portugal's conservation areas are divided into five categories: One national park, 12 natural parks, 9 natural reserves, 5 n...
 include one national park (Parque Nacional), 12 natural parks (Parque Natural), 9 natural reserves (Reserva Natural), 5 natural monuments (Monumento Natural), and 7 protected landscapes (Paisagem Protegida), ranging from the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês to the Parque Natural da Serra da Estrela to the Paul de ArzilaPaul de Arzila

Paul de Arzila is a Portuguese natural reserve occupying an area in Coimbra municipality , and neighbouring municipalities o...
. Climate and geographical diversity shaped the Portuguese Flora. There are almost 2,800 autochthonous species. Due to economical reasons the pines trees (especially the Pinus pinaster and Pinus pinea species), the chestnut tree, the cork oak, and the eucalyptus are very widespread. Fauna is diverse and includes foxFox

A fox is a member of any of 27 species of small omnivorous canids....
es, badgerBadger

Badger is the common name for any animal of three subfamilies, which belong to the family Mustelidae: the same mammal family...
s, genetGenet

Genet can refer to:*Citizen Gent a French ambassador to the United States....
s, feral catFeral cat

A feral cat is a cat which has been separated from domestication, whether through abandonment, loss, or running away, and be...
s, hareHare

Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus....
s, weaselWeasel

Weasels are mammals in the genus Mustela of the Mustelidae family....
s, and polecats. Portugal is an important stop over place for migratory birds.

Government and politics


Portugal is a democratic republic ruled by the constitution of 1976Portuguese Constitution of 1976

Portugal is governed under the constitution of 1976 whose preliminary drafting was largely completed in 1975, then finished ...
 with LisbonLisbon Summary

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal....
, the nation's largest city, as its capital.
The four main governing components are the president of the republicList of Presidents of Portugal

The complete list of Presidents of the Portuguese Republic consists of the 20 heads of state in the history of Portugal sinc...
, the assembly of the republicAssembly of the Republic

The Assembly of the Republic is the Portuguese parliament; its building in Lisbon is referred to as Palácio de São Bento....
, the governmentGovernment of Portugal

The Government is one of the four sovereignty organs of the Portuguese Republic....
, and the courts. The constitution grants the division or separation of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. Portugal like most European countries has no state religionFacts About State religion

A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state....
, making it a secular stateSecular state

A secular state is a state or country that officially is neutral in matters of religion, neither supporting nor opposing any...
.

The president, who is elected to a five-year term, has a supervising, non-executive role. The current President is Aníbal Cavaco SilvaAníbal Cavaco Silva

Anbal Antnio Cavaco Silva, GCC is the President of the Portuguese Republic, having won the Portuguese presidential election ...
. The Assembly of the Republic is a unicameral parliament composed of 230 deputies elected for four-year terms. The government is headed by the prime ministerList of Prime Ministers of Portugal

|| September 24, 1834|| May 4, 1835|| Chartist/"Chamorro"...
 (currently José SócratesJosé Sócrates

Jos? S?crates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa, GCIH ; ...
), who chooses the Council of Ministers, comprising all the ministers and the respective state secretaries.

The national and regional governments (those of AzoresAzores

The Azores are an archipelago of Portuguese islands in the middle of the northern Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km from Lisb...
 and MadeiraMadeira

Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean that lies between and ....
 autonomous regions), and the Portuguese parliamentAssembly of the Republic Summary

The Assembly of the Republic is the Portuguese parliament; its building in Lisbon is referred to as Palácio de São Bento....
, are dominated by two political parties, the Socialist PartySocialist Party (Portugal)

The Socialist Party is a political party of Portugal....
 and the Social Democratic PartySocial Democratic Party (Portugal)

| colspan="2" bgcolor="#ff0000" ||-! colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: larger;" | Social Democratic Party'...
. Minority parties Unitarian Democratic CoalitionUnitarian Democratic Coalition

The Unitarian Democratic Coalition is an electoral and political coalition between the Portuguese Communist Party and the Ec...
, Bloco de EsquerdaLeft Bloc

Left Bloc is a Portuguese far-left political party founded in 1999....
 (Left Bloc) and CDS-PPDemocratic and Social Center / People's Party Summary

The Democratic and Social Centre / People's Party is a Portuguese Christian Democratic political party....
 (People's Party) are also represented in the parliamentAssembly of the Republic Overview

The Assembly of the Republic is the Portuguese parliament; its building in Lisbon is referred to as Palácio de São Bento....
 and local governments.

The courts are organized into categories, including judicial, administrative, and fiscal. The supreme courts are the courts of last appeal. A thirteen-member constitutional courtPortuguese Constitutional Court Overview

The Portuguese Constitutional Court is a special court, defined by the Portuguese Constitution as part of the judicial branc...
 oversees the constitutionality of legislation.

Foreign relations



Portugal is a founding member of NATONATO

Aznar also proposed a strategic co-operation with India and Colombia. ...
 (1949), OECD (1961) and EFTA (1960); it left the latter in 1986 to join the European UnionEuropean Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states....
. In 1996 it co-founded the Community of Portuguese Language CountriesFacts About Community of Portuguese Language Countries

The Community of Portuguese Language Countries is a multilateral forum for mutual friendship between the lusophone nations a...
 (CPLP). It has a friendship alliance and dual citizenshipMultiple citizenship

Multiple citizenship, or multiple nationality, is a status in which a person is concurrently regarded as a citizen under the...
 treaty with Brazil. Portugal is part of the world's oldest active alliance through its treaty with the United KingdomAnglo-Portuguese Alliance

The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance between England and Portugal is the oldest alliance in the world which is still in force....
.

The only international dispute concerns the municipality of OlivençaOlivenza

Olivenza|-| style="background:#efefef;" align="center" colspan="2" |...
. Under Portuguese sovereignty since 1297, the municipality of Olivença was ceded to Spain under the Treaty of Badajoz in 1801, after the War of the OrangesWar of the Oranges

The War of the Oranges was a brief conflict in 1801 in which France and Spain fought against Portugal....
. Portugal claimed it back in 1815 under the Treaty of ViennaCongress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna was a conference between ambassadors from the major powers in Europe that was chaired by the Austrian...
. Nevertheless, bilateral diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries are cordial, as well as within the European UnionEuropean Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states....
.

Military


The armed forces have three branches: ArmyPortuguese Army

The Portuguese Army is the ground branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation with the other branches of the...
, NavyPortuguese Navy

The Portuguese Navy is the naval branch of the Portuguese Armed Forces which, in cooperation and integrated with the other ...
, and Air ForcePortuguese Air Force

The Portuguese Air Force or FAP is the air force of Portugal....
. The military of Portugal serves primarily as a self-defense force whose mission is to protect the territorial integrity of the country and providing humanitarian assistance and security at home and abroad. As of 2002, the total armed forces of Portugal numbered 43,600 active personnel including 2,875 women. Reservists numbered 210,930 for all services. The army had 25,400 personnel with equipment including 187 main battle tanks. The navy of 10,800, including 1,580 marines, had two submarines, six frigates, and 28 patrol and coastal combatants. The air force of 7,400 was equipped with 50 combat aircraft. Paramilitary police and republican guards, the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), number 40,900. GNR is a police force under the authority of the military, its soldiers are subject to military law and organization. It has provided detachments for participation in international operations in IraqIraq

The Republic of Iraq, is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing most of Mesopotamia as well as the north...
 and East TimorEast Timor

East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia comprising the eastern hal...
. The United States maintains a military presence with 770 troops. Portugal participates in peacekeeping operations in several regions. Defense spending in 1999–00 was $1.3 billion, representing 2.2% of GDP.

Since the early 2000s, compulsory military service is no longer practised. The changes also turned the forces' focus towards professional military engagements. The age for voluntary recruitment is set at 18. In the 20th century, Portugal engaged in two major military interventions: the First Great WarFacts About Portugal in the Great War

Despite its old alliance with Britain, Portugal did not form a part of the system of alliances which became enemies in Wo...
 and the Portuguese Colonial WarPortuguese Colonial War

The Portuguese Colonial War, Ultramar War or, among some guerrilla sympathizers, Guinea-Bissauan Revolution, was...
 (1961-1974). Portugal has participated in peacekeeping missions in East TimorEast Timor

East Timor, officially the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, is a country in Southeast Asia comprising the eastern hal...
, BosniaBosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country on the Balkan peninsula of southern Europe with an area of 51,129 km , and an estim...
, KosovoKosovo

Kosovo is a province in southern Serbia which has been under United Nations administration since 1999....
, AfghanistanAfghanistan

Afghanistan ; Persian : ?????? ?????? ?????????, Pashto: ? ????????? ?????? ???????) is a landlocked country at ...
, IraqIraq Overview

The Republic of Iraq, is a Middle Eastern country in southwestern Asia encompassing most of Mesopotamia as well as the north...
, and LebanonLebanon

Lebanon, officially the Lebanese democratic Republic , is a small, largely mountainous country in the Middle East, loc...
. The Portuguese Military's Rapid Reaction BrigadePortuguese Rapid Reaction Brigade

The Brigada de Reac??o R?pida , is a unit of the Portuguese Army which was known as BAI - Brigada Aerotransportada Independe...
, a combined force of the nations elite ParatroopersFacts About Parachute Troops School

The ETP - Escola de Tropas P?raquedistas , based in Tancos, is a unit of the Portuguese Army and serves as the instruction c...
, Special Operations Troops Centre, and Commandos, is a special elite fighting force.

Economy



Portugal's economy is based on services and industry such as software and automotive. Business services have overtaken more traditional industries such as textiles, clothing, footwear, cork and wood products and beverages (wine, beer, juice, soft drinks). The country has increased its role in the automotive, mold-making and software sectors. Services, particularly tourism, are playing an increasingly important role. Portugal's European UnionEuropean Union

The European Union is an intergovernmental and supranational union of 25 democratic member states....
 (EU) funding will be cut by 10%, to 22.5 billion euros, during the 2007-2013 period. EU expansion into eastern Europe has erased Portugal's past competitive advantage and relative low labor costs. Portugal's economic developmentEconomic development

Economic development is the development of the economic wealth of countries or regions for the well-being of their inhabitan...
 model has been changing from one based on public consumptionConsumption

Consumption may refer to several things, including:...
 and public investment to one focused on exports, private investmentInvestment

Investment or investing is a term with several closely-related meanings in finance and economics, related to saving or...
, and development of the high-tech sector. At present, Portugal is exporting more technology than it imports.

Portugal joined the European Union