Portugal is the westernmost country in continental Europe. Its capital is Lisbon. Although Portugal is a small nation, it played an important role in world affairs in the 15th and 16th centuries. Many famous Portuguese explorers sailed to distant places and discovered new lands. Portugal was then one of the richest nations in the world. More recently, Portugal has become one of the poorest countries in Western Europe, a status that it is trying to shed. GeographyPortugal lies along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, a region occupied by Portugal and Spain. It is bordered by Spain on the north and east and by the Atlantic Ocean on the west and south. The Azores and the Madeira islands are also part of Portugal. They lie far to the west and southwest of the mainland, in the Atlantic Ocean. The country has a total area of 35,662 square miles (92,365 square kilometers). Portugal is shaped roughly like a thin rectangle, with one of its longer sides along the ocean. Thus a high proportion of the country's land is coastline. Portugal's ties to the sea have been strong throughout its history. The country's geographic features are very diverse. Portugal can be broadly divided into three regions: the northwest, the northeast, and the south. Northwestern Portugal is quite hilly and rainy. Most of the country's population lives in this region. The northeast is mountainous and drier. It contains the mainland's highest mountain range, the Estrela Mountains. The southern region of Portugal consists mostly of low plains and gentle hills. The main rivers of Portugal flow into the country from Spain, including the Douro, Tagus, and Guadiana rivers. The Tagus runs southwestward to Lisbon. It divides Portugal roughly in half. Portugal's climate varies from region to region but is primarily Mediterranean. Generally, winters are mild and humid, and the summers are warm and dry. Plants and animalsMost of Portugal's forests lie in the northern highlands, with mainly oak, beech, chestnut, and pine trees. Groves of cork oak and holm oak are found in the central areas. In the south are brush and grasslands. Olives thrive throughout the country. Wildlife is generally sparse in Portugal. However, foxes, rabbits, and hares are widespread, and there are numerous birds. Wild goats, pigs, and deer inhabit the countryside. Wolves can be found in remote parts of the Estrela Mountains. Fish are plentiful in Portugal. People and cultureAlmost all of the people of Portugal are similar in ethnicity, language, and religion. The official language of the country is Portuguese. The vast majority of the people are Roman Catholic. Portugal is more heavily populated in the north than the south. The largest cities include Lisbon, Porto, and Amadora. The country is still largely rural, with only about 35 percent of the people living in cities and urban areas. Folk music and dancing remain an important part of daily life. Especially popular is the fado, a traditional form of song that expresses the sad, romantic mood of the nation. Bullfighting is another favorite form of entertainment. However, the animals are not killed in the ring, as they are in Spain. In addition, Portuguese bullfighters compete on horseback. Portuguese literature is known for its lyric poetry, especially that of the early 20th-century poet Fernando Pessoa. Portuguese novelist José Saramago won the Nobel prize for literature in 1998. EconomyManufacturing, trade, and services account for the bulk of Portugal's income. The main industries produce textiles and clothing, machinery and vehicles, footwear, and cork and wood products. These goods are the country's chief exports. For a country of its size, Portugal has a large foreign trade. Tourism has also been a key source of revenue. - Grapes are grown on hillsides near the Douro River in northern Portugal.
On the other hand, farming contributes less than 5 percent of the country's income. The main crops include grains, potatoes, grapes (for wine), olives, and tomatoes. Portugal is a leading exporter of tomato paste and wines. The country is famous for its port and Madeira wines. HistoryEarly conquestsPeople lived in the region that is now Portugal hundreds of thousands of years ago. Iberians were settled there more than 7,000 years ago. Celtic peoples began to arrive about 3,000 years ago. In the 2nd century BC, Rome conquered the Iberian Peninsula, making Portugal the westernmost outpost of the Roman Empire. Roman authority declined in the early 5th century AD. Germanic peoples then controlled much of the Iberian Peninsula for the next 300 years. The Muslims invaded in 711 and left only northern Portugal under Christian rule. Christian forces attempted to reconquer the area almost immediately. In 1139 the area that they had regained became a kingdom, with Afonso Henriques as king. Later rulers continued the reconquest until about 1250, when the Muslims were completely pushed out. Golden age of discoveryThe house of Aviz ruled the kingdom from 1385 to 1580. During that time, Portugal became one of Europe's great powers. Also during that time, however, Jews living in Portugal were expelled, killed, or forced to convert to Christianity. In the 15th century, the country began a period of prosperous overseas exploration. Prince Henry the Navigator supported many journeys. Explorations took Portuguese voyagers to Africa, India, Indonesia, China, the Middle East, and South America. Bartolomeu Dias and Vasco da Gama opened up new routes from western Europe to Asia. In 1500 Pedro Álvares Cabral claimed Brazil for Portugal. By the 16th century, Portugal had amassed a huge empire in Asia, Africa, and South America. Its overseas empire measured about 23 times the size of Portugal itself. DeclineIn 1580 the Portuguese house of Aviz died out. Control of the country passed to Spain. However, a revolution in 1640 removed the Spanish monarchy. The Bragança family of Portugal took their place and ruled for more than 250 years. A difficult time began for Portugal. Its two allies, England and France, were often at war with each other. In the early 19th century, Portugal was a victim of devastating invasions by the French emperor Napoleon's armies. A long period of political instability followed. The Portuguese republicA revolution overthrew the monarchy and set up a republic in 1910. The military in turn overthrew that unstable republic in 1926. António de Oliveira Salazar soon came to power. Salazar ruled as a dictator for nearly 40 years. The next leader began to make some changes, but he refused to give up Portugal's remaining colonies. The military seized control in 1974. This revolution marked the beginning of Portugal's transition to democracy. From 1974 to 1976, Portugal granted independence to all of its remaining colonies except Macau. (Macau was returned to China in 1999.) In 1976 Portugal held its first free elections in 50 years. From the 19th century, Portugal had gradually become one of the poorest nations in Western Europe. However, the economy began to grow quickly in the late 20th century. In 1986 Portugal joined a group of nations called the European Community (now the European Union). By 1998 Portugal had improved its economy enough to join the European Monetary Union. The nations that joined this union began to share a common currency, called the euro, in 2002. Population (2001 estimate), 10,328,000 |