Jump to content

Portugal: Difference between revisions

Change links
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Earlier diff
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Tags: Reverted Visual edit
 
(16 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 14: Line 14:
| official_languages = [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] {{small|(also in [[national language]])}} <br>
| official_languages = [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] {{small|(also in [[national language]])}} <br>
[[Portuguese Sign Language]]
[[Portuguese Sign Language]]
| regional_languages = [[Mirandese language|Mirandese]]{{NoteTag|name=a|[[Mirandese language|Mirandese]], spoken in the region of [[Terra de Miranda]], was officially recognized in 1999 (''Lei n.° 7/99 de 29 de Janeiro''),<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url = https://mirandes.no.sapo.pt/LMPSlei.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020318130143/http://mirandes.no.sapo.pt/LMPSlei.html | url-status=dead | archive-date = 18 March 2002 | title = Reconhecimento oficial de direitos linguísticos da comunidade mirandesa (Official recognition of linguistic rights of the Mirandese community) | website= Centro de Linguística da Universidade de Lisboa (UdL) | access-date= 2 December 2015 }}</ref> awarding it an official right-of-use.{{big|<ref name="auto1">[http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/euromosaic-pbC29295845/downloads/C2-92-95-845-EN-C/C29295845ENC_001.pdf?FileName=C29295845ENC_001.pdf&SKU=C29295845ENC_PDF&CatalogueNumber=C2-92-95-845-EN-C The Euromosaic study, Mirandese in Portugal], europa.eu&nbsp;– [[European Commission]] website. Retrieved January 2007. Link updated December 2015</ref>}} [[Portuguese Sign Language]] is also recognized.}}
| regional_languages = [[Mirandese language|Mirandese]]{{NoteTag|name=a|[[Mirandese language|Mirandese]], spoken in the region of [[Terra de Miranda]], was officially recognized in 1999 (''Lei n.° 7/99 de 29 de Janeiro''),<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url = https://mirandes.no.sapo.pt/LMPSlei.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020318130143/http://mirandes.no.sapo.pt/LMPSlei.html | url-status=dead | archive-date = 18 March 2002 | title = Reconhecimento oficial de direitos linguísticos da comunidade mirandesa (Official recognition of linguistic rights of the Mirandese community) | website= Centro de Linguística da Universidade de Lisboa (UdL) | access-date= 2 December 2015 }}</ref> awarding it an official right-of-use.{{big|<ref name="auto1">[http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/euromosaic-pbC29295845/downloads/C2-92-95-845-EN-C/C29295845ENC_001.pdf?FileName=C29295845ENC_001.pdf&SKU=C29295845ENC_PDF&CatalogueNumber=C2-92-95-845-EN-C The Euromosaic study, Mirandese in Portugal], europa.eu&nbsp;– [[European Commission]] website. Retrieved January 2007. Link updated December 2015</ref>}} [[Portuguese Sign Language]] is also recognized.}}
| ethnic_groups = {{Unbulleted list
| ethnic_groups = {{Unbulleted list
|94.6%&nbsp;[[Portuguese people|Portuguese]]
|94.6%&nbsp;[[Portuguese people|Portuguese]]
Line 21: Line 21:
| ethnic_groups_ref = {{NoteTag|name=b|By country of citizenship}}<ref name="auto2"/>
| ethnic_groups_ref = {{NoteTag|name=b|By country of citizenship}}<ref name="auto2"/>
| ethnic_groups_year = 2021
| ethnic_groups_year = 2021
| religion = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap; |84.3% [[Christianity]] |—81.0% [[Catholic Church in Portugal|Roman Catholic]] |—3.3% Other [[List of Christian denominations|Christians]] |6.8% [[Irreligion|No religion]] |0.6% Others |8.3% Undeclared}}
| religion = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap; |84.3% [[Christianity]] |—81.0% [[Catholic Church]] |—3.3% Other [[List of Christian denominations|Christians]] |6.8% [[Irreligion|No religion]] |0.6% Others |8.3% Undeclared}}
| demonym = Portuguese
| demonym = Portuguese
| government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[republic]]<ref>[http://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Portugal_2005.pdf Constitution of Portugal, Preamble]:</ref>
| government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[republic]]<ref>[http://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Portugal_2005.pdf Constitution of Portugal, Preamble]:</ref>
Line 27: Line 27:
| leader_name1 = {{nowrap|[[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]]}}
| leader_name1 = {{nowrap|[[Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa]]}}
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]]
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Portugal|Prime Minister]]
| leader_name2 = [[António Costa]]
| leader_name2 = [[Luís Montenegro]]
| legislature = [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]]
| legislature = [[Assembly of the Republic (Portugal)|Assembly of the Republic]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Portugal|Establishment]]
| sovereignty_type = [[History of Portugal|Establishment]]
Line 52: Line 52:
| established_date12 = 1 January 1986
| established_date12 = 1 January 1986
| area_km2 = 92,212
| area_km2 = 92,212
| area_footnote = <ref>{{in lang|pt}}{{cite web |title=Superfície Que municípios têm maior e menor área? |url=https://www.pordata.pt/Municipios/Superf%C3%ADcie-57 |publisher=[[Pordata]] |access-date=17 November 2020}}</ref>
| area_footnote = <ref>{{in lang|pt}}{{cite web |title=Superfície Que municípios têm maior e menor área? |url=https://www.pordata.pt/Municipios/Superf%C3%ADcie-57 |publisher=[[Pordata]] |access-date=17 November 2020 |archive-date=2 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220402143742/https://www.pordata.pt/Municipios/Superf%C3%ADcie-57 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| area_rank = 109th <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_rank = 109th <!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]] -->
| area_sq_mi = 57,298
| area_sq_mi = 57,298
Line 60: Line 60:
| population_census = {{DecreaseNeutral}} 10,344,802<ref name="auto2">{{cite web | website=Statistics Portugal - Web Portal | date=16 December 2021 | url=https://ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=526271534&DESTAQUESmodo=2| access-date=16 December 2021 | title=Censos 2021 - Divulgação dos Resultados Provisórios}}</ref>
| population_census = {{DecreaseNeutral}} 10,344,802<ref name="auto2">{{cite web | website=Statistics Portugal - Web Portal | date=16 December 2021 | url=https://ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_destaques&DESTAQUESdest_boui=526271534&DESTAQUESmodo=2| access-date=16 December 2021 | title=Censos 2021 - Divulgação dos Resultados Provisórios}}</ref>
| population_census_year = 2021
| population_census_year = 2021
| population_density_km2 = 112.2<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.pordata.pt/en/Portugal/Population+density++according+to+Census-412 | title=PORDATA - Population density, according to Census}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = 112.2<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.pordata.pt/en/Portugal/Population+density++according+to+Census-412 | title=PORDATA - Population density, according to Census | access-date=2022-02-22 | archive-date=2020-11-30 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130050138/https://www.pordata.pt/en/Portugal/Population+density++according+to+Census-412 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $406.2&nbsp;billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects – Portugal|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/October/weo-report?c=182,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2026&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|publisher=International Monetary Fund|access-date=12 October 2021|year=2021}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP = {{increase}} $406.2&nbsp;billion<ref name="imf2">{{cite web|title=Report for Selected Countries and Subjects – Portugal|url=https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2021/October/weo-report?c=182,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2020&ey=2026&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1|publisher=International Monetary Fund|access-date=12 October 2021|year=2021}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_year = 2022
| GDP_PPP_year = 2022
Line 74: Line 74:
| Gini_year = 2019
| Gini_year = 2019
| Gini_change = decrease <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| Gini_change = decrease <!-- increase/decrease/steady -->
| Gini_ref = <ref>{{cite web|title=Gini coefficient |url=https://www.pordata.pt/MicroPage.aspx?DatabaseName=Portugal&MicroName=Índice+de+Gini+(percentagem)&MicroURL=2166&|publisher=PORDATA|access-date=8 June 2019|location=Portugal}}</ref>
| Gini_ref = <ref>{{cite web|title=Gini coefficient|url=https://www.pordata.pt/MicroPage.aspx?DatabaseName=Portugal&MicroName=%C3%8Dndice+de+Gini+%28percentagem%29&MicroURL=2166&|publisher=PORDATA|access-date=8 June 2019|location=Portugal|archive-date=24 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524073542/https://www.pordata.pt/MicroPage.aspx?DatabaseName=Portugal&MicroName=%C3%8Dndice+de+Gini+(percentagem)&MicroURL=2166&|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Gini_rank =
| Gini_rank =
| HDI = 0.864 <!-- number only -->
| HDI = 0.864 <!-- number only -->
Line 97: Line 97:
| footnote_b = {{Note|b}} By country of citizenship
| footnote_b = {{Note|b}} By country of citizenship
| footnote_c = {{Note|c}} [[Constitution of Portugal|Portuguese Constitution adopted in 1976]] with several subsequent minor revisions, between 1982 and 2005.
| footnote_c = {{Note|c}} [[Constitution of Portugal|Portuguese Constitution adopted in 1976]] with several subsequent minor revisions, between 1982 and 2005.
| status_text = 5'7
| religion_year = 2011
| religion_year = 2011
| today =
| today =
}}
}}


'''Portugal''' is a [[country]] in [[Southern Europe]] on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe and part of the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]]. It is bordered by the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west and south and by [[Spain]] to the north and east. Its capital city is Lisbon It has been a member of the [[European Union]] since 1986. Portugal was under a [[António de Oliveira Salazar|dictatorship]] between 1926 and 1974 called [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]]. The dictatorship of Estado Novo was ended by a peaceful revolution called [[Carnation Revolution]]. The Portuguese economy has since prospered but was hit hard by the 2007-2008 recession.
'''Portugal''' is a [[country]] in [[Southern Europe]] on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the westernmost country of Europe and part of the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean area]]. It is bordered by the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west and south and by [[Spain]] to the north and east. Its capital city is Lisbon. It has been a member of the [[European Union]] since 1986.


Portugal was under a [[António de Oliveira Salazar|dictatorship]] between 1926 and 1974 called [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]]. This dictatorship was ended by a peaceful revolution called the [[Carnation Revolution]]. The Portuguese economy has been very good since then although it was hit hard by the recession of 2007-2008.
⚫
Portugal has a football team and won the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2017]] and hosted the event in 2018.


⚫
It once had an empire called the [[Portuguese Empire]], and was a powerful maritime nation from the 1500s to the 1800s, being the tenth-largest empire, with a maximum land area of 10.4 million km² which included [[Brazil]], [[Angola]], [[Mozambique]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[East Timor|East Timore]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], and [[Portuguese Ceylon]] ([[Sri Lanka]]), as well as [[Macau]] in [[China]] (until 2002).
{{db-u1}}


⚫
Portugal is a popular holiday destination but is sometimes overlooked in favour of larger countries like France, Spain and Italy. The Algarve region in the south and the capital Lisbon are the most popular destinations.
⚫
It once had an empire called the [[Portuguese Empire]], and was a powerful maritime nation from 1500s–1800s, the 10th-largest empire with a maximum land area of 10.4 million km² which included [[Brazil]], [[Angola]], [[Mozambique]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[East Timor|East Timore]], [[São Tomé and Príncipe]], [[Portuguese Ceylon]] ([[Sri Lanka]]) and even [[Macau]] in [[China]] (until 2002).


⚫
The country has a national football team. Portugal won the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2017|Eurovision Song Contest]] in 2017, and hosted the contest the following year.
⚫
Portugal is a popular holiday destination but is sometimes overlooked in favour of larger countries like France, Spain and Italy. The Algarve region in the south and capital Lisbon are the most popular.


==Geography==
==Geography==
Line 118: Line 119:
=== Kingdom of Portugal ===
=== Kingdom of Portugal ===
{{main|Kingdom of Portugal}}
{{main|Kingdom of Portugal}}
Portugal became its own [[Kingdom of Portugal|kingdom]] in [[1139]] but was not officially recognized until [[1143]]. Portugal has had links with [[Kingdom of England|England]] since the 1100s by a treaty. The border with [[Spain]] has been almost the same since the [[13th century]]. [[Fishing]] and [[trade|trading]] with other countries were important here.
Portugal became a [[Kingdom of Portugal|kingdom]] in 1139 but was not officially recognized until 1143. It has had links with [[Kingdom of England|England]] since the 1100s by a treaty. The border with Spain has been almost the same since the [[13th century]]. [[Fishing]] and [[trade|trading]] with other countries were important here.


Portugal was important in the world [[exploration]] for two reasons. [[Henry the Navigator]], a prince from Portugal, was very interested in exploration. [[Invention]]s in [[navigation]] led to a bigger knowledge of [[geography]].
Portugal was important in world [[exploration]] for two reasons. Firstly, Prince [[Henry the Navigator]] of Portugal was very interested in exploration. Secondly, [[invention]]s in [[navigation]] led to a greater knowledge of [[geography]].


This world exploration began the [[Portuguese Empire]]. Portugal was a [[world power]] during the [[15th century|15th]] and [[16th century|16th centuries]]. It tried to colonize Canada in the 16th century. However, it lost a lot of money soon after this. Portugal and Spain were in the [[Iberian Union]] from 1580 to 1640. The city of [[Lisbon]] was destroyed in an [[earthquake]] in [[1755]]. The country was [[occupation|occupied]] during the [[Peninsular War]]. It lost its largest [[colony]], [[Empire of Brazil|Brazil]], in [[1822]].
This exploration of the world began the [[Portuguese Empire]]. The country was a [[world power]] during the [[15th century|15th]] and [[16th century|16th centuries]]. It tried to colonize Canada in the 16th century. However, it lost a lot of money soon after this. Portugal and Spain were in the [[Iberian Union]] from 1580 to 1640. The [[1755 Lisbon earthquake]] devastated the capital and weakened the aristocracy. The country was [[occupation|occupied]] during the [[Peninsular War]] during the early 1800s. It lost its largest [[colony]], [[Empire of Brazil|Brazil]], in 1822.


=== Portuguese Republic ===
=== Portuguese Republic ===
In [[1910]], the [[Kingdom of Portugal]] ended and Portugal became a [[Republic]]. Eight years after Portugal’s involvement in [[World War I|World War One]], a [[military]] group took control of the country from the Portuguese First Republic called the [[28 May coup|28 May coup d’état]]. This began a time of [[rule]] by authoritarian [[government]]s called Ditadura Nacíonal that later became known as [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]]. During [[World War II]] Portugal remained neutral but friendly to [[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[Francisco Franco|Spain]]. In 1974 a peaceful [[left-wing]] army [[coup]], called the ''[[Carnation Revolution]]'' had taken place that overthrown the military dictatorship and ended the [[Portuguese Colonial War]]. Political prisoners and oppositions of [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] were freed. The coup was an important part of Portugal’s transition to [[democracy]] and changed the way the country was ran.
In 1910, the [[Kingdom of Portugal]] ended and the nation became a [[republic]]. Eight years after Portugal's involvement in [[World War I]], a [[military]] group took control of the country from the Portuguese First Republic in the [[28 May coup|28 May coup d’état]]. This began a time of rule by authoritarian [[government]]s called ''Ditadura Nacíonal'' that later became known as [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|''Estado Novo'']]. During [[World War II]] Portugal remained neutral but friendly to [[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[Francisco Franco|Spain]].


In 1974, a peaceful [[left-wing]] army [[coup]], called the ''[[Carnation Revolution]]'' took place that overthrew the military dictatorship and ended the [[Portuguese Colonial War]]. Political prisoners and opponents of [[António de Oliveira Salazar]] were freed. The coup was an important part of Portugal’s transition to [[democracy]] and changed the way the country was run.
⚫
The next year, Portugal allowed its colonies in [[Africa]] to be on their own sovereignty: [[Mozambique]], [[Angola]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Cape Verde]] and [[São Tomé and Príncipe]].


⚫
In 1975, Portugal allowed its colonies in [[Africa]] to become independent: [[Mozambique]], [[Angola]], [[Guinea-Bissau]], [[Cape Verde]] and [[São Tomé and Príncipe]].
[[East Timor]] in [[Asia]] declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975, and was invaded and occupied by [[Indonesia]]n forces nine days later.


Portugal went into the [[European Union]] in [[1986]]. Another [[Asian]] colony, [[Macau]], became part of [[China]]
[[East Timor]] in [[Asia]] declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975, and was invaded and occupied by [[Indonesia]]n forces nine days later. Another Asian colony, [[Macau]], became part of [[China]].


The main language of Portugal is [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]].
Portugal joined the [[European Union]] in 1986. The main language of Portugal is [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]].


Some famous Portuguese people are [[Afonso I of Portugal|D. Afonso Henriques]], [[Henry the Navigator]], [[Bartolomeu Dias]], [[Vasco da Gama]], [[Pedro Álvares Cabral]], [[Ferdinand Magellan]], [[Luís de Camões]], [[Fernando Pessoa]], [[Amália Rodrigues]], Álvaro Siza Vieira, Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Some famous Portuguese people are [[Afonso I of Portugal|D. Afonso Henriques]], [[Henry the Navigator]], [[Bartolomeu Dias]], [[Vasco da Gama]], [[Pedro Álvares Cabral]], [[Ferdinand Magellan]], [[Luís de Camões]], [[Fernando Pessoa]], [[Amália Rodrigues]], Álvaro Siza Vieira, and Eduardo Souto de Moura.


Luís de Camões wrote the national poem of Portugal. It is called ''Os Lusíadas'' and was written in 1572.<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11198/ |title = The Lusiads |website = [[World Digital Library]] |accessdate = 2013-09-02 }}</ref>
Luís de Camões wrote the national poem of Portugal. It is called ''Os Lusíadas'' and was written in 1572.<ref name="WDL">{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/11198/ |title = The Lusiads |website = [[World Digital Library]] |accessdate = 2013-09-02 }}</ref>

Latest revision as of 21:44, 19 October 2024

Portuguese Republic
República Portuguesa (Portuguese)
Motto: 
Esta é a ditosa Pátria minha amada
("This is my blissful beloved homeland")
Anthem: 
A Portuguesa
("The Portuguese")
Location of  Portugal  (dark green)

– on the European continent  (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union  (green)

Capital
and largest city
Lisbon
38°46′N 9°9′W / 38.767°N 9.150°W / 38.767; -9.150
Official languagesPortuguese (also in national language)
Portuguese Sign Language
Recognised regional languagesMirandese[note 1]
Ethnic groups
(2021)[note 2][3]
Religion
(2011)
Demonym(s)Portuguese
GovernmentUnitary semi-presidential republic[4]
• President
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa
Luís Montenegro
LegislatureAssembly of the Republic
Establishment
868
1095
24 June 1128
• Kingdom
25 July 1139
1 December 1640
23 September 1822
• Republic
5 October 1910
25 April 1974
25 April 1976[note 3]
1 January 1986
Area
• Total
92,212 km2 (35,603 sq mi)[5] (109th)
• Water (%)
1.2 (as of 2015)[6]
Population
• 2021 census
Neutral decrease 10,344,802[3]
• Density
112.2[7]/km2 (290.6/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $406.2 billion[8] (52nd)
• Per capita
Increase $39,544[8] (58th)
GDP (nominal)2022 estimate
• Total
Increase $271.2 billion[8] (47th)
• Per capita
Increase $26,404[8] (52nd)
Gini (2019)Positive decrease 31.9[9]
medium
HDI (2019)Increase 0.864[10]
very high · 38th
CurrencyEuro (€) (EUR)
Time zoneUTC (WET)
UTC−1 (Atlantic/Azores)
• Summer (DST)
UTC+1 (WEST)
UTC (Atlantic/Azores)
Note: Mainland Portugal and Madeira use WET/WEST, the Azores are 1 hour behind.
Date formatdd/mm/yyyy
Mains electricity230V - 50Hz
Driving sideRight
Calling code+351
ISO 3166 codePT
Internet TLD.pt
  1. ^ Mirandese, spoken in some villages of the municipality of Miranda do Douro, was officially recognized in 1999 (Lei n.° 7/99 de 29 de Janeiro),[1] awarding it an official right-of-use.[2] Portuguese Sign Language is also recognized.
  2. ^ By country of citizenship
  3. ^ Portuguese Constitution adopted in 1976 with several subsequent minor revisions, between 1982 and 2005.

Portugal is a country in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the westernmost country of Europe and part of the Mediterranean area. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east. Its capital city is Lisbon. It has been a member of the European Union since 1986.

Portugal was under a dictatorship between 1926 and 1974 called Estado Novo. This dictatorship was ended by a peaceful revolution called the Carnation Revolution. The Portuguese economy has been very good since then although it was hit hard by the recession of 2007-2008.

It once had an empire called the Portuguese Empire, and was a powerful maritime nation from the 1500s to the 1800s, being the tenth-largest empire, with a maximum land area of 10.4 million km² which included Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, East Timore, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka), as well as Macau in China (until 2002).

Portugal is a popular holiday destination but is sometimes overlooked in favour of larger countries like France, Spain and Italy. The Algarve region in the south and the capital Lisbon are the most popular destinations.

The country has a national football team. Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017, and hosted the contest the following year.

Geography

[change | change source]

Three groups of islands in the Atlantic Ocean are also part of Portugal: the Azores (Açores), Madeira and the Savage Isles (Ilhas Selvagens). The Savage Isles are a small group of uninhabited islands, administered by Madeira. Portugal claims that Olivença is also part of its territory, but it is controlled by Spain.

History

[change | change source]

Kingdom of Portugal

[change | change source]
See the main article: Kingdom of Portugal

Portugal became a kingdom in 1139 but was not officially recognized until 1143. It has had links with England since the 1100s by a treaty. The border with Spain has been almost the same since the 13th century. Fishing and trading with other countries were important here.

Portugal was important in world exploration for two reasons. Firstly, Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal was very interested in exploration. Secondly, inventions in navigation led to a greater knowledge of geography.

This exploration of the world began the Portuguese Empire. The country was a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries. It tried to colonize Canada in the 16th century. However, it lost a lot of money soon after this. Portugal and Spain were in the Iberian Union from 1580 to 1640. The 1755 Lisbon earthquake devastated the capital and weakened the aristocracy. The country was occupied during the Peninsular War during the early 1800s. It lost its largest colony, Brazil, in 1822.

Portuguese Republic

[change | change source]

In 1910, the Kingdom of Portugal ended and the nation became a republic. Eight years after Portugal's involvement in World War I, a military group took control of the country from the Portuguese First Republic in the 28 May coup d’état. This began a time of rule by authoritarian governments called Ditadura Nacíonal that later became known as Estado Novo. During World War II Portugal remained neutral but friendly to Britain and Spain.

In 1974, a peaceful left-wing army coup, called the Carnation Revolution took place that overthrew the military dictatorship and ended the Portuguese Colonial War. Political prisoners and opponents of António de Oliveira Salazar were freed. The coup was an important part of Portugal’s transition to democracy and changed the way the country was run.

In 1975, Portugal allowed its colonies in Africa to become independent: Mozambique, Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe.

East Timor in Asia declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975, and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. Another Asian colony, Macau, became part of China.

Portugal joined the European Union in 1986. The main language of Portugal is Portuguese.

Some famous Portuguese people are D. Afonso Henriques, Henry the Navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, Ferdinand Magellan, Luís de Camões, Fernando Pessoa, Amália Rodrigues, Álvaro Siza Vieira, and Eduardo Souto de Moura.

Luís de Camões wrote the national poem of Portugal. It is called Os Lusíadas and was written in 1572.[11]

Notes

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ Mirandese, spoken in the region of Terra de Miranda, was officially recognized in 1999 (Lei n.° 7/99 de 29 de Janeiro),[1] awarding it an official right-of-use.[2] Portuguese Sign Language is also recognized.
  2. ↑ By country of citizenship
  3. ↑ Portuguese Constitution adopted in 1976 with several subsequent minor revisions, between 1982 and 2005.
[change | change source]

References

[change | change source]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Portugal.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide about: Portugal
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Reconhecimento oficial de direitos linguísticos da comunidade mirandesa (Official recognition of linguistic rights of the Mirandese community)". Centro de Linguística da Universidade de Lisboa (UdL). Archived from the original on 18 March 2002. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Euromosaic study, Mirandese in Portugal, europa.eu – European Commission website. Retrieved January 2007. Link updated December 2015
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Censos 2021 - Divulgação dos Resultados Provisórios". Statistics Portugal - Web Portal. 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  4. ↑ Constitution of Portugal, Preamble:
  5. ↑ (in Portuguese)"Superfície Que municípios têm maior e menor área?". Pordata. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Surface water and surface water change". Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "PORDATA - Population density, according to Census". Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects – Portugal". International Monetary Fund. 2021. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  9. ↑ "Gini coefficient". Portugal: PORDATA. Archived from the original on 24 May 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "Human Development Report 2020" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Lusiads". World Digital Library. Retrieved 2013-09-02.
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portugal&oldid=9836696"