Have you ever wondered why Portugal, a small country on the edge of Europe, was never fully taken over by its larger neighbor, Spain? Let’s dive into some fascinating history to find out!
Long ago, the area we now call Spain and Portugal was known as Hispania, a name given by the Romans. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Visigoths took over the region. However, their rule didn’t last long. A new force from Arabia, driven by the spread of Islam, quickly conquered much of the area by the end of the 7th century. This led to the establishment of Al-Andalus, a Muslim-ruled region on the Iberian Peninsula.
Portugal began to emerge as a separate kingdom in 1128, thanks to a key battle led by Afonso Henriques. He declared himself the king of Portugal, and by 1179, the Pope officially recognized his rule. Meanwhile, what we now know as Spain started to form with the union of Castile and Aragon in 1479, although it took until 1516 for them to have a single unified king.
During the Reconquista, a period when Christian kingdoms aimed to reclaim land from Muslim Moors, Portugal, Castile, and Aragon worked together. By 1249, Portugal had completed its reconquest, while Castile finished in 1492, the same year Christopher Columbus set sail for the Caribbean.
In 1578, Portugal faced a crisis when King Sebastian died without an heir. This led to a succession dispute, and eventually, Philip II of Spain became the king of Portugal in 1581, creating the Iberian Union. However, this union didn’t last forever. By 1640, Portugal fought to restore its independence, successfully re-establishing its own monarchy.
Throughout history, Spain and Portugal have had their share of conflicts, including the War of the Oranges in 1801 and the Peninsular War against France. Despite these tensions, they sometimes found themselves on the same side, especially when facing common threats like the French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars.
Several factors helped Portugal maintain its independence from Spain. These include strategic diplomacy, focusing on overseas colonies, and Spain’s internal issues. Additionally, Portugal’s geography, with its hilly terrain, wasn’t particularly attractive for conquest.
In the end, both countries turned their attention to exploring and colonizing new lands during the Age of Discovery. This focus on overseas expansion helped them avoid prolonged conflicts over the Iberian Peninsula itself.
So, while Portugal and Spain have shared a long and complex history, Portugal’s ability to remain independent is a testament to its strategic decisions and the unique circumstances of the time.
If you enjoyed this journey through history, consider exploring more about these fascinating countries and their past!
Research the key events mentioned in the article, such as the formation of Portugal, the Reconquista, and the Iberian Union. Create a timeline that visually represents these events. Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline engaging and informative.
Divide into groups and role-play a debate between Portugal and Spain during the Iberian Union. Each group should research their assigned country’s perspective and argue why they should or should not remain united. This will help you understand the historical context and motivations of each side.
Examine historical maps of the Iberian Peninsula from different periods. Identify the changes in territorial boundaries and discuss how geography influenced political decisions and conflicts between Portugal and Spain. Present your findings to the class.
Investigate how Portugal and Spain’s focus on overseas exploration during the Age of Discovery impacted their relationship. Create a presentation or report highlighting key explorers, discoveries, and how these ventures helped maintain Portugal’s independence.
Write a short story imagining an alternate history where Portugal was conquered by Spain. Consider how this might have changed the course of history for both countries and the world. Share your story with the class and discuss the potential impacts.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Even though Portugal and Spain were part of a union at one point and Spain invaded Portugal during the Napoleonic period, the Portuguese lands were not practically conquered and annexed into the Spanish Kingdom. The only mainland neighbor of Portugal is Spain, a much larger country. Centuries ago, Spain was one of the biggest powers in the world, expanding into the New World and Asia, with large overseas colonies protected by its formidable armies and navies. Given their former power and having a smaller neighbor cornered on the Atlantic coast, we may ask why Portugal wasn’t conquered by Spain.
To answer that, we need to look at some history. The Iberian Peninsula was known as Hispania, a name given by the Romans. However, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the territory was taken over by the Visigoths, who ruled the entire peninsula, but this was temporary. Their new home was conquered by a new force emerging from Arabia, starting as a religious movement. Islam spread rapidly, mainly due to early military successes against the Eastern Romans and Persians. Arab dynasties expanded significantly, reaching the shores of the Atlantic Ocean by the end of the seventh century.
In these empires, Islam was embraced by many, and it became dominant in the caliphates. It is believed that Hispania was one of the former Roman provinces where Latin language and culture had deep roots. On April 30th, 711, Muslim general Tariq ibn Ziyad landed in Gibraltar, and by the end of his campaign, most of the peninsula was under Islamic rule. Islam had been present in Hispania since the Umayyad conquest in the 8th century, and many Muslims lived in the Iberian Peninsula, known as Al-Andalus. They were Arabs, Berbers, or local people who accepted the religion.
Even after the Umayyad dynasty collapsed, parts of the peninsula remained under Muslim dynasties for centuries, with a Muslim majority existing more in the Spanish part than in the Portuguese part. Portugal emerged earlier than Spain, forming as a kingdom in 1128 after winning an important battle led by Afonso Henriques, who proclaimed himself king of Portugal in the first half of the 12th century. This was part of the Reconquista, and he was recognized in 1143 by the king of León, Alfonso VII, and in 1179 by the Pope.
What we know as Spain began with the union of the crowns of Castile and Aragon in 1479, although it wasn’t until 1516 that they had a single unified king. An interesting point in history is the War of Castilian Secession, where Portugal supported Joanna, the wife of King Alfonso V of Portugal, while Aragon supported Isabel, the wife of Ferdinand, the future king of Aragon. If Joanna had won, Portugal and Castile would have been joined together, while Aragon could have remained independent.
Until then, the term Hispania referred exclusively to the Iberian Peninsula. The Constitution of 1876 adopted the name Spain for the first time. Portugal, Castile, and Aragon were allies during the Reconquista, reclaiming land from the Muslim Moors and expanding southward. Portugal’s reconquest was fully achieved by 1249, while Castile completed its reconquest in 1492, coinciding with Christopher Columbus’s first voyage to the Caribbean.
In 1492, both states began acquiring territory in the New World as a result of the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas, with Portugal acquiring its most significant colony, Brazil. In 1578, King Sebastian of Portugal died in battle against the Moroccans and Turks, leaving no heirs. His great-uncle, Henry of Portugal, succeeded him but also had no heirs, leading to a succession crisis. The main claimants to the Portuguese throne were Philip II of Spain and Anthony of Crato. After the Spanish victory in the War of Portuguese Succession, Philip of Spain was crowned king in 1581, beginning a personal union between the two nations known as the Iberian Union, which led to a decline of the Portuguese Empire.
The Iberian Union lasted for almost 60 years until 1640, when the Portuguese Restoration War was initiated against Spain, re-establishing the Portuguese dynasty under the Braganza. During the 18th century, despite often being on opposite sides in major power struggles, Portugal aligned with Great Britain while Spain allied with France.
In 1762, during the Seven Years’ War, Spain launched an unsuccessful invasion of Portugal. There were conflicts between the two states over their possessions in South America, including the War of the Oranges in 1801, where Spanish forces, influenced by France, invaded Portugal. This was a precursor to the Peninsular Wars, resulting in the Treaty of Badajoz and the loss of Portuguese territory, particularly Olivenza.
In 1807, the king of Spain and his French allies invaded Portugal. However, the French decided to take over both countries, overthrowing the king of Spain and forcing the Portuguese royal family to escape to Brazil. Spain and Portugal subsequently became allies for the first time in centuries, joining forces with the British army to expel the French by 1813 after a long conflict known as the Peninsular War.
France caused significant damage to both Spanish and Portuguese economies, and their reputations were altered as they lost their American colonies shortly after the Peninsular War, severely weakening their global power. Following their European struggles, both countries faced internal problems, leading to the loss of much of their New World territories through independence wars in the following decades.
After the fall of Napoleon, Portugal and Spain came close to war several times during the early 19th century. Portugal and Spain had been rival sea powers since the 14th century. Portugal was initially positioned to explore the Atlantic and successfully discovered that Africa was a major source of trade goods brought by camel caravans across the Sahara.
Despite being rivals, Spain and Portugal focused more on their overseas colonies during the Age of Discovery, with wealth primarily coming from abroad. Both countries were concerned with surveying their new lands, and trade became a significant source of income. The influx of American gold was crucial for the Spanish economy, necessitating the defense of their overseas possessions.
Starting in the 19th century, there were a few plans for a possible union between Portugal and Spain. Some attempted to promote the idea of an Iberian Confederation, with plans for a unified Iberian Republic or Union. Even the first Spanish Republic designed a Federal Constitution to include Portugal, and the second Spanish Republic considered plans to invade Portugal during the Spanish Civil War, which ultimately failed.
Portugal is mostly a hilly and not particularly attractive country to conquer, even though there were attempts throughout history. Many important factors could have changed the course of history for these two countries, considering the historical context in which they were formed and how events unfolded over the centuries. The reasons for Portugal not being conquered by Spain are numerous, including a lack of significant interest in the land, a focus on colonies, Portuguese diplomacy, decisions affecting the Iberian Union, Spanish internal problems, and various external factors.
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Portugal – A country located on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe, known for its maritime history and exploration during the Age of Discovery. – Portugal played a significant role in the Age of Exploration, with explorers like Vasco da Gama opening sea routes to India.
Spain – A country on the Iberian Peninsula in Europe, known for its rich history, including the Reconquista and the Spanish Empire. – Spain was a dominant global power in the 16th century, establishing colonies in the Americas and the Philippines.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often focusing on significant developments and their impact on societies. – Understanding the history of the Roman Empire helps us comprehend the foundations of modern European culture.
Iberian – Relating to the Iberian Peninsula, which includes the countries of Spain and Portugal. – The Iberian Peninsula was a central stage for the Reconquista, a series of campaigns to reclaim territory from the Moors.
Reconquista – A period in the history of the Iberian Peninsula, spanning approximately 780 years, during which Christian kingdoms sought to recapture territory from Muslim rulers. – The Reconquista culminated in 1492 with the fall of Granada, the last Muslim stronghold in Spain.
Monarchy – A form of government with a monarch at the head, such as a king or queen, often hereditary. – The Spanish monarchy played a crucial role in financing Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the New World.
Independence – The state of being free from outside control or not subject to another’s authority, often after a struggle for freedom. – The American colonies declared their independence from British rule in 1776, leading to the Revolutionary War.
Diplomacy – The practice of conducting negotiations between countries, often to maintain peace and establish alliances. – Diplomacy was key in forming alliances during World War I, as countries sought to balance power in Europe.
Geography – The study of the Earth’s physical features, climate, and human interaction with the environment. – Geography influences history, as natural barriers like mountains and rivers have shaped the development of civilizations.
Colonies – Territories under the political control of another country, often settled by people from the controlling nation. – The British colonies in North America eventually united to form the United States after gaining independence.
