Page 340 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

338  THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

Portugal’s golden age reached its zenith in Absolutists and Constitutionalists struggled
the reign of Manuel I, with Vasco da Gama’s for power, until, in 1910, a republican
voyage to India in 1498 and the discovery revolution overthrew the monarchy.
of Brazil in 1500. The era also produced The weakness of the economy led to a
the one uniquely Portuguese style of military coup in 1926 and a long period of
architecture: the Manueline. dictatorship. António
Trade with the East brought Salazar, who held power
great wealth, but military from 1932 to 1968, rid the
defeat in Morocco meant country of its debts, but
that the prosperity was poverty was wide spread
short-lived. Spain invaded in and all opposition
1580 and ruled Portugal for banned. The country was A Coruña
the next 60 years. a virtual recluse in the Vigo N120
After Portugal regained world community, the A52 Verín
independence, its fortunes prime concern of foreign A3 Bragança
were restored by gold from policy being the defense A28 A24 Chaves Zamora
Brazil. In the late 18th century, of its African and Asian Viana do A27 Braga N103 N2 IP4
Castelo
the chief minister, the Manuel I (reigned 1495–1521), who made vast colonies. The bloodless N13 A7
Marquês de Pombal, famous profits from Portugal’s spice trade Carnation Revolution A3 Guimarães Vila Real
for rebuilding Lisbon after ended the dictatorship Oporto A4
(Porto)
the 1755 earth quake, began to modernize in 1974, and full democracy was restored A1 Douro
the country. However, Napoleon’s invasion in 1976. Since its entry into the European A24 N102
in 1807 and the loss of Brazil in 1825 left Community in 1986, Portugal has enjoyed Aveiro A29 A25 Viseu A25 Salamanca
Portugal impoverished and divided. rapid economic growth and assumed the IP3
self-confident attitude of a modern ATLANTIC A17 N17 A23 Guarda
KEY DATES IN PORTUGUESE HISTORY OCEAN N109 Buçaco
Western European state.
Figueira Coimbra
139 BC Romans subdue the Lusitani da Foz Condeixa-a-Nova
415 AD Visigoths invade Iberian Peninsula Language and Culture N10 A17 POR TUGAL
711 Muslim army conquers Visigothic kingdom The family is the hub of Portuguese daily Batalha A1 Zêzere Castelo
A8
Branco
1139 Afonso Henriques declares himself king life and Catholicism remains a powerful (IC1) Tomar
1147 Afonso Henriques takes Lisbon force in rural communities. But the Alcobaça
1249 Conquest of Algarve complete country has come a long way since the IP6 N8 Tejo A23 N246 Cáceres
1385 João I defeats Castilians at Aljubarrota repression and self-censorship of the A8 Portalegre
1418 Prince Henry the Navigator made governor Salazar era. Urban Portugal, in particular, A1 A13 Santarém
of Algarve; sponsors expeditions to Africa presents a fairly emancipated and eagerly A6 Badajoz
1578 King Sebastião killed on ill-fated expedition N10 N18 N4 Mérida
to Morocco consumerist face to the world. LISBON N4
The national psyche encapsulates this (Lisboa) A6 Évora
1580 Philip II of Spain becomes king of Portugal Setúbal A2
1640 Restoration; Duke of Bragança crowned João IV; dualism in its struggle between a forward- See inset map N256
start of war of independence looking, realistic approach to life and the IC1 Sado IP2
1668 Spain recognizes Portugal’s independence dreamy, inward-looking side that finds IP8 Beja
1807 French invade; royal family flees to Brazil expression in the Portuguese notion of Sines N 260
1910 Revolution; Manuel II abdicates and flees to saudade, a melancholy yearning for Seville
England; republic proclaimed something lost or unattainable. N391 Guadiana S PAI N
1932 António Salazar becomes prime minister
The Portuguese language is a source of N120 IC1
1974 Carnation Revolution national pride, and visitors should not A2 N2 IC27
2000 Portugal joins European single currency assume that it is interchangeable with Portimão Albufeira A22 Huelva,
2011 The economic crisis forces Portugal in to a €78 Spanish. Portuguese people are also often Lagos Seville
billion bailout agreement with the EU and IMF Faro
2013 Government approves further austerity eager to speak English. Pride, too, is taken
measures to avoid a second international bailout in fado, the native musical tradition that
expresses saudade.

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