A Traveller's History Of Portugal

Product Description

Details: A definitive concise history of Portugal, from its earliest beginnings right up to the politics & life of the present day. It was not until the twelfth century that Portugal became a country in its own right, having been a Roman colony & then having suffered both Barbarian & Islamic invasions. The golden age of discoveries, the reign & foresight of Henry the Navigator, & great seamen such as Vasco da Gama led to the founding of Portugal's empire & wealth. Troubled times followed: in 1755 Lisbon was virtually leveled by the " Great Earthquake, & the country had hardly recovered its former prosperity when it was overrun by Napoleon's troops at the start of the Peninsular War, to be followed not long after by the Miguelite civil war. The middle decades of the nineteenth century saw the Port Wine trade flourishing, & further expansion into Africa. During the last quarter of the twentieth century, ever since the bloodless revolution of 1974 overthrew the rightwing dictatorship of Salazar, the country has regained its stability, & now takes its rightful place in the European Community. Illustrated with maps & line drawings, the book has a full Historical Gazetteer cross-referenced to the main text that concentrates on the historic sites in a country that has retained its individuality & thus its appeal to the individual traveler. Ideal for: People traveling to Portugal, with an interest of the history of the place they are visiting. Should be read by anyone going to the country to help understand recent history. This is the book for any potential traveller. This paperback book has 228 pages & measures: 19.7 x 12.9 x 2cm