Portugal
Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe, whose territory also includes the Macaronesian archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. It features the westernmost point in continental Europe; its mainland west and south border with the North Atlantic Ocean; and in the north and east, the Portugal-Spain border, which constitutes the longest uninterrupted border line in the European Union. Portugal is the oldest nation-state in Europe. Founded in 1143, its current borders were established in mid-13th century, making them some of the most ancient in Europe and the world. Its archipelagos form two autonomous regions with their own regional governments. On the mainland, the Alentejo region occupies the biggest area but is one of the least densely populated regions of Europe. Lisbon is the capital and largest city by population, and it is also the main spot for tourists alongside Porto, the Douro Valley, the Minho and Algarve regions, and Madeira.
Some of the key events about Portugal
- 1139Kingdom of Portugal was established
- 1415Portuguese Age of Discovery began with the conquest of Ceuta
- 1498Sea route to India was discovered
- 1500Brazil was discovered, expanding Portuguese empire
- 1580Portugal entered a dynastic union with Spain, losing independence for 60 years
- 1755Lisbon was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake, showcasing Enlightenment urban planning
- 1755A massive earthquake and tsunami devastated Lisbon
- 1807Napoleonic forces invaded Portugal, forcing the royal family to flee to Brazil
- 1822Brazil peacefully gained independence from Portugal
- 1910Portuguese monarchy was overthrown, establishing the First Republic
- 1910Regicide of King Carlos I and Crown Prince Luís Filipe occurred
- 1926Military coup ended the First Republic, leading to the Estado Novo dictatorship
- 1961Indian forces annexed Goa, ending Portuguese rule in India
- 1974Carnation Revolution ended the authoritarian Estado Novo regime
- 1974Decolonization process led to the loss of African colonies and civil wars
- 1975Hundreds of thousands of retornados fled from former colonies to Portugal
- 1986Portugal joined the European Economic Community (now European Union)
- 2008Global financial crisis severely impacted Portuguese economy
- 2011Portugal required a €78 billion bailout from the EU and IMF
- 2016Portugal won its first major international football trophy, the UEFA Euro 2016
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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