The history of Portugal (Google eBook)

James M. Anderson

Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000 - History - 222 pages

This informative, concise, and engagingly written work provides the most up-to-date history of Portugal, current through 1999, and gives a full picture of the political, social, cultural, and economic influences that shaped the history of Portugal. Covering the period from Portugal's early conception as a nation through its long history, with emphasis on the dramatic period of the last several decades, this volume culminates with the demise of the Salazar dictatorship and the independence of its colonies. Complete with a timeline for easy reference to events, brief biographies of important people, lists of monarchs and heads of state, and a bibliographic essay, it is the ideal companion for the student or interested reader.

In nine chapters, Anderson discusses the geography of Portugal, its prehistoric antecedents, its formation as a nation, and the events that once made it a world leader in exploration, discovery, and imperial power. How and why the country was drawn into the orbit of its large neighbor, Spain, lost much of its empire, and yet managed to regain its independence are examined, along with the trials and tribulations encountered on its journey from monarchy to modern republic. The discussion presents the factors that kept Portugal one of the poorest nations in Europe for most of its existence and the reasons that it is now, leading into the 21st century, closing the economic gap with wealthier nations.

What people are saying

Review: The History of Portugal: (The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations)

User Review  - Talmage - Goodreads

I don't think I'm ready for a straight history book. My teacher warned me but I trudged through it anyway.

Contents

• Portugal Today: 1
• Early History: 17
• House of Burgundy 10971385: 27
• House of Avis Joao IManuel I 13851521: 39
• House of Avis Joao IIICardinal Henrique 15211580: 79
• Union with Spain 15801640: 99
• House of Braganca 16401910: 111
• Monarchy to Republic to Dictatorship: 141
• Revolution and Democracy: 159
• Notable People in the History of Portugal: 185
• Monarchs and Heads of State: 193
• Portuguese Colonies: 197
• Glossary: 203
• Acronyms: 205
• Bibliographic Essay: 207
• Index: 213

About the author

JAMES M. ANDERSON is Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada. He has spent many years in Portugal and Spain both as a Fulbright Scholar and the recipient of Canada Council and other grants. He is the author of six books and numerous articles in Iberian studies.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The history of Portugal; ABC-Clio ebook; The Greenwood histories of the modern nations, ISSN 1096-2905
• Author: James M. Anderson
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000
• ISBN: 0313311064, 9780313311062
• Length: 222 pages
• Subjects: History / Europe / Spain & Portugal