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HISTORY

Portugal is one the most successful survivors in the history. It is famous through out the globe because of her emigration, colonization and commerce.

The original peoples of Portugal's were the Lusitanos. Because of Roman power, the control extended upto west as Portugal. In the early 700 the Moors took control on Portugal and much of the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. Till the 11th century, Moorish dominion continued.

Portugal being an independent country in 1143, after a 15 year rebellion by Dom Afonso Henriques (Afonso I). Afonso Henriques defeated Countess Teresa of Portugal, regent of the County (Condado) of Portugal and loyal to the Kingdom of Leon at the battle of Sao Mamede (Batalha de Sao Mamede) near the town of Guimaraes, in June of 1128. Countess Teresa was imprisoned and exiled by her son, and died in 1130. Therefore Guimaraes is known as the birthplace city of Portugal. Alfonso Henriques was the first independent ruler of Portugal. Actually Portugal became an independent country in the year 1385 at the Battle of Aljubarotta.

In 1986, there was a great change in Portugal. It would join the European Economic Community (EEC) and have its first-ever democratic elections. This would mark a great psychological leap into the 20th century, after centuries of decline under a stagnating monarchy, a failed republican government, decades of mind-numbing dictatorship, and a period of confusion, finally mixed with hope.

The capital of Portugal, Lisbon was even hosted the final World's Fair "Expo 98", European City of Culture in 1994 and the European Soccer Championships in 2004. Portugal is a founding member of NATO.

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