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History of Portugal
Journey back in time to Portugal
Explore the history, people, photographs, newspapers, postcards, and genealogy connected to Portugal.
ABOUT THE PLACE
About Portugal
Fun fact: In Portugal, it is considered distasteful to ask for salt and/ or pepper at a meal. That is taken as a signal to the chef that you don't like the food.
Christmas in Portugal: On Christmas Eve Portuguese families gather around the Christmas tree and the Crèche to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Catholicism is the main religion in Portugal. Thus, the Crèche is a very important part of the celebration. Traditionally, children are in charge of collecting materials for the Crèche. Most children write letters to Infant Jesus asking for presents rather than to Santa Claus. worldholidaytraditions.com
Christmas in Portugal: On Christmas Eve Portuguese families gather around the Christmas tree and the Crèche to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Catholicism is the main religion in Portugal. Thus, the Crèche is a very important part of the celebration. Traditionally, children are in charge of collecting materials for the Crèche. Most children write letters to Infant Jesus asking for presents rather than to Santa Claus. worldholidaytraditions.com
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VINTAGE PORTUGAL
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LOCAL HISTORY
Discover Portugal: History, News, Travel, and Stories
Explore the events, newspaper stories, people, and moments that shaped Portugal through the years.
Portugal's sovereignty was interrupted between 1580 and 1640.
This occurred because the last two kings of the House of Aviz – King Sebastian, who died in the battle of Alcácer Quibir in Morocco, and his great-uncle and successor, King Henry of Portugal – both died without heirs, resulting in the Portuguese succession crisis of 1580.
From 1595 to 1663 the Dutch-Portuguese War primarily involved the Dutch companies invading many Portuguese colonies and commercial interests in Brazil, Africa, India and the Far East, resulting in the loss of the Portuguese Indian Sea trade monopoly.
In 1640, John IV spearheaded an uprising backed by disgruntled nobles and was proclaimed king.
The Portuguese Restoration War between Portugal and the Spanish Empire, on the aftermath of the 1640 revolt, ended the sixty-year period of the Iberian Union under the House of Habsburg. This was the beginning of the House of Braganza, which reigned in Portugal until 1910.
By 1755, Sebastião de Melo was made Prime Minister of Portugal
Impressed by British economic success he had witnessed while Ambassador, he successfully implemented similar economic policies in Portugal. He abolished slavery in Portugal and in the Portuguese colonies in India; reorganized the army and the navy; restructured the University of Coimbra, and ended discrimination against different Christian sects in Portugal.
Disaster fell upon Portugal in the morning of 1 November 1755, when Lisbon was struck by a violent earthquake with an estimated Richter scale magnitude of 9.
The city was razed to the ground by the earthquake and the subsequent tsunami and ensuing fires.Sebastião de Melo survived by a stroke of luck and then immediately embarked on rebuilding the city, with his famous quote: "What now? We bury the dead and take care of the living."
In 1762, Spain invaded Portuguese territory as part of the Seven Years' War, but by 1763 the status quo between Spain and Portugal before the war had been restored.
1800 - Population of Portugal (Portuguese Empire) - 2,970,000
In the autumn of 1807, Napoleon moved French troops through Spain to invade Portugal.
From 1807 to 1811, British-Portuguese forces would successfully fight against the French invasion of Portugal, while the royal family and the Portuguese nobility, including Maria I, relocated to the Portuguese territory of Brazil, at that time a colony of the Portuguese Empire, in South America. This episode is known as the Transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil.
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1895 - Portugal
Portugal, portu-gil, a kingdom in the S.W. of Europe, forming the W. part of the Spanish peninsula. It is bounded on the E. and N. by Spain, and on the W. and S. by the Atlantic between lat. 36° 55' and 42° 7' N. and lon.6° 15' and ** W. Its shape is nearly a parallelogram. Greatest length from N. to S., 345 miles; greatest breadth, 140 miles. Its coast is occasionally bold, but is mostly low and marshy. The number of harbors, large and small, exceeds 2-, but the only ones of importance are those of Lisbon, Oporto, Setubal, Faro, Figueira, Aveiro, and Viana. The interior of Portugal is generally mountainous, a number of ranges stretching across the country, either in W.S.W., or S.S.W. directions, forming a succession of river-basins, while their ramifications, penetrating in all directions, enclose many wild and beautiful valleys....
1900 - Population of Portuguese Empire - 12,434,000
Population of Portugal (Portugal proper only) - 5,450,000
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Portugal:
Lisbon: Start your journey in the capital city, Lisbon. Explore the historic neighborhoods of Alfama, Bairro Alto, and Baixa. Don't miss the iconic Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. Take a tram ride on Tram 28 for a unique perspective of the city.
Sintra: Just a short train ride from Lisbon, Sintra is a fairytale-like town with colorful palaces and lush gardens. Visit Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Moorish Castle.
Porto: Head north to Porto, famous for its port wine cellars along the Douro River. Explore the Ribeira district, walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge, and visit Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.
Douro Valley: While in Porto, consider a day trip to the Douro Valley, known for its terraced vineyards. You can take a boat ride along the river or visit a local winery for wine tasting.
Algarve: If you're a beach lover, head to the Algarve region in the south. Albufeira, Lagos, and Faro are popular coastal towns with stunning ...
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Sintra: Just a short train ride from Lisbon, Sintra is a fairytale-like town with colorful palaces and lush gardens. Visit Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Moorish Castle.
Porto: Head north to Porto, famous for its port wine cellars along the Douro River. Explore the Ribeira district, walk across the Dom Luís I Bridge, and visit Livraria Lello, one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world.
Douro Valley: While in Porto, consider a day trip to the Douro Valley, known for its terraced vineyards. You can take a boat ride along the river or visit a local winery for wine tasting.
Algarve: If you're a beach lover, head to the Algarve region in the south. Albufeira, Lagos, and Faro are popular coastal towns with stunning ...
GENEALOGY IN PORTUGAL
Discover YOUR Roots: Portugal Ancestry
Explore ancestors connected to Portugal through births, deaths, marriages, cemeteries, and local genealogy resources.
BIRTHS & DEATHS
Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Portugal
We currently have information about 18 ancestors who were born or died in Portugal.
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Updated: 9/15/2023 11:42:09 AM
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