History of Portugal

About a half-million of years back land of Portugal has been stocked with the person and to I millenary B.C. was a glomeration component iberijskih the people, on the choronomic shape and tongue coming nearer to the Caucasian nations, related modern Georgians.

From second half I millenary B.C. the ethnic composition of local residents began to vary considerably at the expense of subsidence here numerous fair-haired Celts of an Aryan parentage. In second half II centuries B.C. the people of Iberian peninsula have been won by Rome. Long Roman sovereignty has ceased only in the beginning of V century of our era when the German nations svevov and vestgotov have created here the kingdoms annihilated in the beginning of VIII century by Arabs.

Developed since IX century in the north of Pireneev Rekonkista has given the chance to kingdom Leon to affiliate the Portuguese terrains won from Arabs who have gained in the end of XI century the status of a county. The become stronger political rule has allowed a county to become in 1139 independent kingdom and to win in 1147 from Arabs Lisbon. Thus to the middle of XIII century Rekonkista it has been finished.

Formation absoljutizma and extraordinary active colonizer activity have helped Portugal to become in first half XVI centuries to one of the largest colonial empires of the world. The crisis which has originated in 1578 temporarily has transformed the country into the Spanish province. Having achieved in the middle of XVII century of independence, Portugal could not count on former marine domination any more. XVIII century is characterised by the general weakening of the country which in 1807 has been won by Napoleonic France.

Delicacy of the government and a worsening rule of masses after clearing of Frenchmen have resulted the country in 1820 in the revolution which have confirmed the Constitution (1821), restricted authority of the king. However the expected social world has not stepped. Throughout all XIX century the authority constantly straddled constitutional monarchy and dictatorship while the begun bourgeois revolution (1910-1918) has not intoned in 1911 in the country republic. The discontent of certain circles of company with progressive vicissitudes also has resulted in 1926 in revolution and determination of the fascist regime which has held on rather long time. In 1974 the rebelled masses have passed all completeness of authority to the democratic government.