3. The Origins
In the beginning, there was no Portugal. There was only one
“region" which is still called Iberian Peninsula. Throughout times,
this region was inhabited by many people like the …
• Arabs (century VIII)
• Visigoths (century V)
• Romans (century III B.C)
• Celts (century VI B.C)
• Greeks (century VIII B.C)
• Iberian (century VI B.C)
4. The Christian Reconquest
“Reconquista Cristã” (Christian Reconquest) was the name given to the period of time during which
the Cristians tried to recover the territory lost to the Moors or Arabs. It gave origin to Condado
Portucalense, a small territory which later became Portugal. This county was ruled by D. Henrique,
father of the first future king of Portugal.
5. The Foundation
In 1128, D. Afonso Henriques became the ruler of
Condado Portucalense after defeating his mother, D.
Teresa, at Batalha de S. Mamede.
After this battle, which took place in the region that is
nowadays the city of Guimarães and in which D. Teresa
had the support of the Kingdom of Leon, D. Afonso
Henriques expanded the territory conquering lands from
the Moors who occupied the most part of the Iberian
Peninsula.
In 1139, he proclaimed himself king and was recognised
as the first King of Portugal, by the Pope, in 1179.
6. The Age of Discovery
The conquest of Ceuta, in 1415, sets the beginning of the Portuguese overseas expansion during
which the Portuguese sailors discovered and mapped the coast of Africa, Asia and America.
The most important achievements of this age are the discovery of the Maritime Route to India
(1497/98) by Vasco da Gama and of the Maritime Route to Brazil by Pedro Álvares Cabral (1500).
Infante D. Henrique was the main responsible for this Age of Discovery.
7. The Fall of the Monarchy
On February 1, 1908 D. Manuel II became the King of Portugal in the same day of the
assassination of his father, D. Carlos, and his brother, D. Luis Filipe.
on October 5,Two years later, he was deposed and the Portuguese Republic was established
1910.
This put an end to eight centuries of Monarchy in Portugal.
8. The 1st Portuguese Republic
The First Republic was the political system between October 5, 1910 and the militar coup which
happened on May, 28 1926, also called the National Revolution.
This Revolution was caused by the political instability and by the disastrous participation of Portugal
in the First World War and initiated a period of dictatorship.
9. “Estado Novo”
The militar dictatorship gave origin to “Estado Novo”, a dictatorship regime under the leadership of
António de Oliveira Salazar, who was nominated President of the Council in 1933.
This authoritarian and autocratic political regime lasted for 41 years until it was overthrow by the
“Revolução dos Cravos” (Carnation Revolution) on April 25, 1974.
During this period, nobody could say anything about the state and had to obey to their orders
otherwise, they would be pursued and punished.
10. The Revolution
On April 25, 1974 the revolution started as a
military coup organized by the Armed Forces
Movement composed of military officers who
opposed the regime. However, the movement
was soon coupled with an unexpected and
popular campaign of civil resistance.
To celebrate a revolution done peacefully,
women placed carnations on top of soldier's
weapons. So, this flower became the symbol
of the revolution and democracy was installed.
11. The European Union
Emerging from a dictatorship and seeking to consolidate its newly restored democracy, on
June,12 1985 Portugal signed the Accession Treaty to join the European Community and
joined the European Project.
Being a member of the EU fostered economic progress and stabilized political problems in
our country.
12. The Euro
Portugal is an Euro-area member
since 1999 and the euro banknotes
and coins were introduced in
Portugal on January,1 2002.
14. Last year, Portugal won the Eurovision Song Contest
with a song entitled Amar pelos dois, sang by
Salvador Sobral.
We also won Euro 2016, our first
European Championship, after beating
France at the Stade de France, in Paris.
