In
the distant past, the original people of what is now Portugal
were the Lusitanos. At the height of Roman power, the empire controlled
territories that extended as far west as Portugal. Later in the
early 700 the Moors took control of what is Portugal and much
of the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. Moorish dominion continued
untill the 11th century. Following the expulsion of the Moors,
Portugal was nominally under Castilian control. Portugal first
borders became fixed in the year 1143. The first independent ruler
of Portugal was Alfonso Henriques. Complete independence from
Castilian rulers occurred 1385 at the Battle of Aljubarotta.
Following independence the attention of the Portuguese was diverted
outwards. The country became very powerful, and at one point had
a vast colonial empire with colonies in the Americas, Africa,
Asia, and India. Later, after a brief period of Spanish control,
when Portugal regained independence, the majority of the empire
was gone.
Following the loss of empire, Portugal became a second rate power
in Europe. At home Portugal had a weak economy and an oppressive
social system. The Enlightenment that swept through much of Europe
seems to have pretty much passed Portugal by.
The 1900's saw conflict and stagnation in the country. It was
not until the mid 1970's that Portugal began to really modernize.
In the 1990's development has really begun to take off. Though
still behind other countries in Europe, things are improving,
and the country is on the road to much better prosperity.
