Modern Portugal's history starts in the 12th century when (with the help of a variety of Crusader types) the Christians in the north of the Iberian Penninsular finally began to evict the Moors. The new Portugal was anxious to be recognised as a proper Country by the Vatican, so to that end, the border between Spain and Portugal was ratified on the basis that Portugal agreed not to grab any Spanish land. It's now one of the oldest, and longest borders in Europe.

The Portuguese Empire was the first of 'global' proportions, and also the longest. Blessed with natural explorers and seafarers like Henrique the Navigator, Bartolomeu Dias, Pedro Álvares Cabral and Vasco da Gama, the country fast became very wealthy. During this period Portugal became a leading trading nation and experienced high levels of growth resulting in some fine 'Manueline' (late Portuguese Gothic) architecture incorporating maritime detail. But the disastrous earthquake of 1755 with it's severe damage to the capital wiped much of this away and marked a cardinal point in the slow decline of Portugal's trade and influence.

Although the Prime minister, Sebastião de Melo, later to become the Marquis of Pombal was the leading light in the rebuilding of Lisbon along farsighted, practical lines, he couldn't stop the slow decline of the country into poverty.

And when, during the Peninsular Wars, Napoleon Boneapart's tyranny over-ran Europe, Portugal was where the British came to beat him on land; from the Duke of Wellington's defensive lines that take their names from the town of Torres Vedras the country is full of the memories of this conflict.

The early years of the twentieth century saw a global rise in tension, resulting in World War One; Portugal was firmly aligned with the Allies. Subsequently, weak governments and a revolution in 1926 resulted in the rise of Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. He remained in power, as a virtual dictator from 1932 until 1968

During the Second World War Portugal assumed a Neutral status, this resulted in Lisbon becoming a hotbed of intrigue as the Embassies and spies from the combatant countries vied for information, trade and raw materials from Portugal.

Despite alleged difficulties over the issue of Nazi-looted gold, Portugal became one of Nato's founding members, finally gaining admission to the United Nations 6 years later in 1955. During this and the next 20 years, Portugal's colonial policies, criticised both internally and internationally were to result in the revolution of 1974. Political, social and economic upheavals continued until 1986 when Portugal both joined the European Union and elected a civilian government, marking the begining of a much more stable era.