History of Portugal: A Captivating Guide to Portuguese History from Ancient Times to the Present

by Captivating History

Did you know modern-day Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is the first European city built with seismic safety in mind?

And there is a very good reason for that! In 1755, Portugal was hit by an earthquake that would measure nine on the future Richter scale.

Portugal, which is located in the Iberian Peninsula, has a rich history that dates to prehistoric times. The first settlers left amazing art behind in the form of rock carvings and rock monoliths. These first peoples never left their country but were integrated into the many societies that came to Portugal over time. There were Phoenician traders, Romans, Germanic tribes, Muslims from North Africa, and Hispanic peoples. This mix of ethnicities resulted in a unique language and culture of the medieval Kingdom of Portugal, and one might even say of the modern-day Portuguese Republic as well.

Even though Portugal is probably best known for exploring the world during the Age of Discovery, the history of mainland Portugal is rarely described outside of the country. This is why the Age of Discovery is only briefly touched upon, as there are many other fascinating things to talk about instead that might be lesser known to readers. The purpose of this book is to familiarize English speakers with the events and personas that built the Portuguese kingdom, its overseas empire, and the state that Portugal is today.

But rather than presenting dry facts, the pages of this book are interwoven with interesting facts and historical events that are little known to the world outside of Portugal itself. In this book, you will were the first people that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula?What was the early culture and religion of the peninsula?Which civilization first discovered the shores of Portugal?How did trade with the Phoenicians develop the culture of the indigenous people?How did the Carthaginian and Roman wars shape the Iberian Peninsula?Why did the Germanic tribes invade the peninsula?Did the Iberian Peninsula thrive under Islamic rule?Why did the Christian kings of the north launch the Iberian Reconquista?How did Afonso I form the medieval Kingdom of Portugal?How did the House of Avis rise to power and start the golden age of Portugal?Why has Portugal always struggled to preserve its independence?What role did the House of Braganza play in the restoration of Portuguese independence?How did the empire end, and how did Portugal become a republic?
Scroll up and click the “add to cart” button to learn all that and more!

Genres: History, Portugal

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2022

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Portugal I didn't know

I went to high school in Fall River, Massachusetts. Fall River and New Bedford are Portuguese (sp?) enclaves, and from the recent history of Portugal, dictated in this book, I can imagine several reasons for families to pickup and leave their roots for better pastures.

Seems that Portugal has a tumultuous history, and it's people suffered each time a new king took the seat of government. A lot of intrigue. Also the inquisition, earthquakes, the black plague. All shaping the country we have today.

Portugal also its good times, including two 'golden' ages. The most interesting thing was about the climate change in the 14th century and how it affect the entire continent of Europe.

This book also took a long time to read, but there was a lot to tell. I hope to visit Portugal and also visit the Azures Islands, both on my bucket list..

This book is an ARC.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two visits, one in the winter and one in the summer and my love for Portugal was cemented. There is so much diversity in history and this book added even more to my knowledge. The awe inspiring seafaring/navigation feats are well known and documented but I was struck by the daring and innovation mentioned in this book and what they went through to become the Portugal of today - what a country! As the offspring of indentured laborers who went to British Guiana from Madeira, I wondered about the Portuguese connection and when able made the journey. I felt instantly "at home" and loved my two visits and the weeks spent visiting many places.
A must read for anyone interested in history/travel.

[Carol Weiss · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dull, too much detail

I am traveling to Portugal and wanted a sense of the history but this was not a good summary. Spent too much time on all the different kings, rulers etc. and not enough on modern times.

[Mark Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

"History of Portugal: A Captivating Guide to Portuguese History from Ancient Times to the Present" is a comprehensive and informative guide to the history of Portugal. The book covers a broad range of topics, including the early history of Portugal, its colonial period, the impact of the World Wars, and its transition to democracy in the 20th century.

The author does an excellent job of presenting the information in an engaging and captivating manner, making it easy to follow and understand even for readers who are not familiar with Portuguese history. The book is well-researched, and the author provides a wealth of interesting and relevant details that bring the history of Portugal to life.

Overall, "History of Portugal: A Captivating Guide to Portuguese History from Ancient Times to the Present" is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning about the history of Portugal. Whether you are a history buff, a student, or simply someone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of this fascinating country, this book is highly recommended.

[Richard Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book, though very short for a national history, makes a fair enough effort to tell the story of Portugal. The first third of the book is interesting and I found the rise and fall of the Visigoths particularly fascinating (including their anti-Semitism.) Similarly the establishment of al-Andalus and the reconquista was well documented. After this, however, the story be ones one of endless dynastic wrangling, marriages and depositions, which is rather dull. Surprisingly very little is said of Portugal's discoveries or of their colonies. Neither is any consideration given to art, music or literature. The final century is very rushed, almost like the ending of a student who sees their deadline approaching quickly.

[Mark Menard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Portugal’s Past, Told Plainly: A Pre-Trip Read

I picked up this history nonfiction book in preparation for my upcoming trip to Portugal. It’s packed with centuries of conflict, invasion, and political shifts—an undeniably rich and complex history.

While I appreciated the depth of content, the presentation felt a bit bland. The writing was informative but lacked the spark that might have brought the events and figures to life. I understand it’s nonfiction, but even so, it didn’t quite wow me.

Still, I’m glad I read it. It gave me a solid foundation before traveling, even if the storytelling didn’t fully capture the drama of Portugal’s past.

[Chantal Angela Moosmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I was looking for! Excellent overview of the entire Portuguese history. Fast paced, easy read yet detailed enough to cover all of the complex history of this fascinating country! If you feel like knowing more about a particular topic, period or personality or a map just search the internet. Like I wanted to know more about the colonies and easily found out to complement the book. I can really warmly recommend this book!!

[Kim Wingerei · Rating 2 out of 5]

An incomplete history of Portugal

After a promising start, very disappointing in the end. Portugal’s formation and history through the Middle Ages and beyond were interesting enough, but the last few chapters, covering the last two hundred years, was a huge disappointment. It felt like the author either ran out of puff, interest or knowledge. The 20th century was sparse on detail and lacked context. The Salazar years are given half a page, his atrocities completely overlooked.

[John Fetzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An uncommon read

Portugal often only gets brief mention in history. This book covers the huge gaps. It is a concise review that gives enough to cover the important storylknes and their impact on Europe and the world.

[arthur gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read.
I left China in the late 40s right after WWII. I was very angry at how a large nation could become so weak that it gets beaten up by every nation in Europe including Portugal. Now I know.

[Hugh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Relatively interesting synopsis of Portuguese history. Unfortunately let down by the number of typos and sentences that didn’t make sense. Could have been more of a focus on modern Portuguese history and the dictatorship of Salazar as it was almost entirely focused on the medieval history.

[Brian Donald William Norman · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this brief glance at Portugal's history I found the lack of detail rather annoying. Instead of bring some very rich characters to life, this author simply sticks to the time scape and offers very little more than glimpses of Portugal's history. It's a fast read if this is your sort of thing.

[Joe Hosler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible.

[Joseph Gardemal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly written and not proofread. Easy summary of the history