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Portugal

PORTUGAL was once one of Europe's major colonial powers with colonies in the Americas, Africa and Asia. Today, it is a Republic with stable democratic government. Economically, Portugal has benefitted considerably through its membership of the European Union. Securalism is widespread and although 75% of the population are officially Roman Catholics, church attendance is declining as nominalism increases.

Historical Background

The land we now know as Portugal has been continuously settled from prehistoric times. The Lusitanians and the Celts are among some of its earliest civilisations. In the second century BC (218 BC) the region was invaded and settled by the Romans but when the Roman Empire collapsed, the region was ruled and colonised by Germanic tribes (5th – 8th centuries). In 711 the Muslim Moors from North Africa conquered the Christian Germanic kingdoms, eventually occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula. 

In the 11th century the Christian Reconquest began in earnest and it was during this time that Portugal emerged as an independent state under the rule of Afonso Henriques. By the mid 13th century the present day boundaries of Portugal were established and Lisbon became the capital.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal’s Golden Age, the kingdom expanded rapidly. Portuguese explorers, such as Vasco da Gama, Pedro Cabral and Henry the Navigator, sailed the seas, discovering Brazil and founding Portugal’s overseas provinces in India, western and eastern Africa, Southeast Asia and Brazil. Eastern trade brought incredible wealth to Portugal and, as a consequence, it became one of the world’s greatest economic, political and cultural powers. However, in 1580 Spain invaded Portugal and ruled for 60 years. Portugal gained independence from Spain in the Portuguese Restoration War of 1640 and JoãoIV came to the throne. The discovery of gold in Brazil helped to restore some of Portugal’s lost fortunes and Lisbon once again became one of the greatest cities among all of the European capitals. In 1755, however, Lisbon was largely destroyed by a great earthquake and had to be rebuilt. 

In the 19th century Napolean’s invasion (1807) and the loss of its largest territorial possession abroad, Brazil, (1825) led to political instability and a divided and impoverished Portugal. In 1910, a revolution deposed the Portuguese monarchy. The economy continued to deteriorate until a military coup in 1926 led to the establishment of the right-wing dictatorship under António Salazar (1928 to 1968).

On 25th April, 1974 an almost bloodless left-wing military coup in Lisbon, known as the Carnation Revolution, led the way for a modern democracy in Portugal and to the independence of Portugal’s African territories.  In 1986, Portugal joined the European Union, restoring some measure of stability and helping to boost its depleted economy.  In 1999, Portugal was accepted as a full member of the European Monetary Union, while its last overseas territory, Macau, was handed back to China. 

Geography

Portugal is the most westerly country of mainland Europe with an area of 92,389 km2. It is bordered on the west and south by the North Atlantic Ocean and on the north and east by Spain. It occupies 15% of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Spain. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores (approx. 800 miles west of Portugal) and Madeira (approx. 500 miles SW of Lisbon) are also part of Portugal.

Portugal is about 350 miles from north to south and 150 miles from west to east. Geographically Portugal can be divided into three distinct regions. Northern Portugal is mountainous and rainy with many small farms and vineyards. The capital city, Lisbon, and its environs are situated in the Central region between the River Douro and River Tejo (Tagus in English). This region accounts for much of the nation’s commerce and industry. The coastal area of the central region is characterised by dunes and pine forests with many people making their living from fishing. The central eastern area (known as the Beira) consists of small farmlands. The Southern region of Portugal comprises the Alentejo (literally “beyond the Tejo”) and the Algarve. The Alentejo is characterised by its great rolling plains facilitating large-scale agriculture and farming. The Algarve is a dry region with many coastal towns. Fishing and grazing are the way of life for many people in the Algarve. However, due to its warm climate the Algarve has, in recent decades, become a popular tourist centre and home to many foreign retirees.

Economy

Agriculture and fishing no longer represent the bulk of Portugal’s economy. Although wheat, corn, potatoes, grapes and olives are produced and tuna and sardines are fished, less than 10% of the gross national product is attributed to agricultural production.

Portugal’s economy is based on the following industries:

• Textiles
• Automotive
• Clothing and footwear
• Cork (Portugal is the world’s leading producer)
• Wine (Portugal is the world’s eighth largest producer – Port wine, named after Portugal’s second largest city, Porto and Madeira Wine, named after the island of Madeira are exported worldwide).
• Ceramics, porcelain and glass
• Tungsten (world’s fifth largest producer).
• Tourism, especially in the Algarve region and on the island of Madeira, has also become a significant contributor to Portugal’s economy.

Since becoming a member of the European Union in 1986, Portugal has enjoyed considerable economic growth. Although Portugal has the lowest per capita GDP in Western Europe (although still high by world standards), it is ranked as the country with the 19th-best quality of life above other far more economically and technically advanced countries like France, Germany, UK and South Korea.

Society and Culture

Literature, painting and music:Portuguese literature is one of the earliest Western literatures. Gil Vicente (1465-1536) was the founder of Portuguese and Spanish dramatic traditions and Luís de Camões (1524-1580) was a poet renowned for his poem The Lusiads. Portugal also has a rich history of painting, with the first well-known painters dating back to the 15th century (for instance Nuno Gonçalves and José Malhoa). Portuguese music encompasses a wide range of genres but Portugal is most famous for the musical style fado, a melancholy urban music associated with Portuguese guitar. Since the 1990's Portugal has opened more public cultural facilities and concert halls to complement the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which was established in Lisbon in 1956.  

Cuisine: The food in Portugal is diverse. The Portuguese enjoy both dry cod (or bachalhau, which they use in numerous recipes), and grilled sardines. Their meat recipes include feijoada (kidney bean stew with cured meats), cozida à portuguesa (national dish of meats, sausages and vegetables served in their own both) and porco à alentejo (a recipe of pork and clams). Portugal is also well known for its sweet pastries, in particular its custard/cream tartlets and, of course, for its wine. 

Sport: Football is a national obsession.  Eusébio helped the Portuguese national team reach third place at the 1966 World Cup. Other world-class Portuguese footballers include Luís Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo. The ‘big three’ national football clubs are F.C. Porto, S.L. Benefica and Sporting C.P. Other noteworthy sports are rink hockey, with the national team having won 15 world titles and 20 European titles. Rugby is also played in Portugal, evident from the 2007 Rugby World Cup, when Portugal qualified as the first all amateur team to compete. Bullfighting also has its adherents, although with nothing like the passion found in Spain. 

Education: The education system is divided into the following:

• Pre-school (jardin de infância) – optional for ages 3 to 5. Pre-school education is available in both state-run and private schools.
• Basic education – this consists of 9 years of compulsory schooling divided into three cycles of four, two and three years.  Until the 9th year the curriculum contains only general education.  In the 9th year, vocational subjects are introduced.
• Secondary education is a further three years of study.  It is possible at this stage to choose between a higher education orientated programme at the end of which a qualification for university can be obtained or a work/skills orientated programme culminating in qualifications for specific jobs.
• Higher education – university and polytechnic.

Religious context

Operation Worldclassifies Portugal as 75% Roman Catholic, 15% no church connection and 5% non-religious. The remaining 5% comprises the protestant and independent churches and a very small Muslim minority. The influence of Catholicism is strong and widespread with many towns having their own patron saint that is worshipped in annual festivals. However, nationally it is the town of Fátimathat has primary focus.

On the 13 May and 13 October every year, large crowds gather in Fátima to commemorate the six appearances in 1917 of the Virgin Mary to three small children in which details of three key events - a vision of hell; a war worse than World War I; and a papal assassination - were revealed. For most people the most impressive aspect of the location is the intense emotion and faith of those who approach the shrine on their knees.  Wax limbs are burned as offerings for miracles performed by the Virgin and thousands of candles light the evening sky.

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