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José Moreira 11th March 2010 |
A good source of statistical information about Portugal is www.pordata.pt . |
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Luís Almeida 13th June 2005 |
Portugal became an independent country in 1143 but was recognised only in 1172. However, 1143 remains the official date of Portugal's independence. |
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Steven Colosi 13th April 2005 |
From around eighth grade I have been interested in finding out the way our government groups people into racial categories on U.S. Census forms, State tests, and at the DMV, knowing that Hispanic is not a race and is already aforementioned on the forms. There seems to be many lacks of understanding on some and I am going to make it my sole duty to bring awareness to this politically sensitive matter. I support adding 'Mediterranean and Middle Easterner' to the application form. The system is so screwed up that everyone from countries east of the Middle East is considered Asian despite the fact that people from India are Caucasians and not at all relative to people from China. It is stupid that our government views people of a darker complexion as non-Caucasian and we have all of these Northern Nazi types claiming to be the Aryan race. I am sorry but Aryan people are nothing close to Hitler's description. Iranians and people from the Indian subcontinent are the true Aryans, which doesn't even have a racial reference in their usage. Our government just doesn't have a clue in the world how to identify people and therefore we have people of an unknown race because of ignorance. I don't understand why Hispanic shouldn't refer to Portuguese culture instead of just pertaining to Spanish culture especially when their cultures are more related to each other than our government gives them credit for. The definition is no doubt ignorant of that fact. After all they both occupy the same peninsula, which was known as Hispania and is known today as the Iberian Peninsula. The Latins are the ancient ancestors of the Italians whom settle in the region of Italy known as Latium and is now Lazio. However, the Celt Iberians are the ancient ancestors of the Spanish and Portuguese and therefore they are a Celt Iberian people, not a Latin people despite their languages derive principally from their language. If a Latin is a native or resident of ancient Latium, then they aren't a native or inhabitant of Latin America. A Latino is a Hispanic American where as an Italian or someone of Italian descent residing in America is a Latin-American. However, people from Portugal and Brazil are not Hispanic American considering the definition for Hispanic. I also have found out by curiosity that Ralph Nader is an Arab-American of Lebanese descent. Believe it or not Doug Flutie is also an Arab-American and they are white according to the government. This is why I perfer 'Mediterranean and Middle Easterner' added to the application. Latins, Greeks, Albanians, and Maltese (Mediterraneans) have a lot more in common with North Africans and Middle Easterners than Europeans: especially Greeks who have lived in Egypt since before the Roman Empire existed and Albanians who have been kings and princesses of Egypt. The Maltese speak a Semitic language derived mainly Arabic with many loan words from Romance languages. They themselves are a great mixture of the peoples who have influenced them and their culture. Mediterraneans have generally the same complexion as Arabs because of where they live. In addition if I were full-blooded I would have more of an olive complexion even though it is not always true. ~ Steven Colosi P.A.H.R. |
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CompuServe 24th January 2005 |
The Azore Islands were discovered by the Portuguese in 1427. At that time, they were uninhabited, but the Portuguese began to settle there in 1439. Then, later under Prince Henry the Navigator, the islands were colonized in some part by the Flemish, which is why so many of the people of the Azores have blue eyes and fair complexions. Later settlers included Jewish farmers, Bretons, and some Italians, English, and Scots. The island of Santa Maria was the first to be discovered and was where Columbus' crews paused when they returned from their first trip upon discovering America. The islands were named after a bird from the hawk family that was found in the area. The Azores are thought by some to be part of the sunken continent of Atlantis. During the period from 1580 - 1640, the Azores were occupied by Spain and used as a staging base for the Spanish fleets. The seas surrounding the islands were the site of many a fierce sea battle between France and Spain. The Azores were declared an autonomous, or self-governing, region of Portugal in 1976. Visit: http://www.portuguesefoundation.org/hispanic.htm |
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Al Sosa 21st January 2005 |
Early ancient Greek explorers named the region Ophiussa (Greek for Land of Serpents) because the natives worshiped serpents. The Phoenicians had been exploring the area since 1104 BC and they had an important influence on the native culture. In the early first millennium BC, several waves of Celts invaded Portugal from Central Europe and intermarried with local peoples, the Iberians, forming the Celt-Iberians. Two of the new tribes formed by this intermarriage were the Lusitanians, who lived between the Douro and Tagus rivers, and the Galicians who, lived north of the Douro river with several other tribes. A Phoenician colony was established in southern Portugal, the Conii. The Celtics, a later wave of Celts, settled in Alentejo. In 238 BC, The Carthaginians occupied the Iberian coasts. In 219 BC, the first Roman troops invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Within 200 years, Roman armies dominated most of the peninsula, driving the Carthaginians out of their colonies in the Punic Wars. The Roman conquest of Portugal started from the south, where the Romans found friendly natives, the Conii. Over decades, the Romans increased their areas of control. But in 194 BC a rebellion began in the north. The Lusitanians and other native tribes, under the leadership of Viriathus, successfully held off the Romans, took back land, and ransacked Conistorgis, the Conii capital, because of their alliance with Rome. Viriathus drove Roman forces out of all of Portugal. Rome sent numerous legions and its best generals to reinforce the Roman positions. Still the Lusitanians took back land. Then the Romans changed their strategy. They bribed ambassadors sent by Viriathus, and persuaded the traitors to kill their own commander. Viriathus was assassinated, and the resistance was soon over. At first, Rome installed a colonial regime. But during this period, Lusitania grew in prosperity and many Portuguese cities and towns were founded. In 27 BC, Lusitania gained the status of Roman Province. Later, a northern province of Lusitania was formed, known as Galecia, with capital in Bracara Augusta (today's Braga). http://explanation-guide.info/meaning/ 2003-2005.All Rights Reserved. |
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Al Sosa 19th January 2005 |
Early ancient Greek explorers named the region Ophiussa (Greek for Land of Serpents) because the natives worshiped serpents. The Phoenicians had been exploring the area since 1104 BC and they had an important influence on the native culture. In the early first millennium BC, several waves of Celts invaded Portugal from Central Europe and intermarried with local peoples, the Iberians, forming the Celt-Iberians. Two of the new tribes formed by this intermarriage were the Lusitanians, who lived between the Douro and Tagus rivers, and the Galaicians who, lived north of the Douro river with several other tribes. A Phoenician colony was established in southern Portugal, the Conii. The Celtics, a later wave of Celts, settled in Alentejo. In 238 BC, The Carthaginians occupied the Iberian coasts. In 219 BC, the first Roman troops invaded the Iberian Peninsula. Within 200 years, Roman armies dominated most of the peninsula, driving the Carthaginians out of their colonies in the Punic Wars. The Roman conquest of Portugal started from the south, where the Romans found friendly natives, the Conii. Over decades, the Romans increased their areas of control. But in 194 BC a rebellion began in the north. The Lusitanians and other native tribes, under the leadership of Viriathus, successfully held off the Romans, took back land, and ransacked Conistorgis, the Conii capital, because of their alliance with Rome. Viriathus drove Roman forces out of all of Portugal. Rome sent numerous legions and its best generals to reinforce the Roman positions. Still the Lusitanians took back land. Then the Romans changed their strategy. They bribed ambassadors sent by Viriathus, and persuaded the traitors to kill their own commander. Viriathus was assassinated, and the resistance was soon over. At first, Rome installed a colonial regime. But during this period, Lusitania grew in prosperity and many Portuguese cities and towns were founded. In 27 BC, Lusitania gained the status of Roman Province. Later, a northern province of Lusitania was formed, known as Galecia, with capital in Bracara Augusta (today's Braga). http://explanation-guide.info/meaning/ 2003-2005.All Rights Reserved. |
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CompuServe 19th January 2005 |
The Azore Islands were discovered by the Portuguese in 1427. At that time, they were uninhabited, but the Portuguese began to settle there in 1439. Then, later under Prince Henry the Navigator, the islands were colonized in some part by the Flemish, which is why so many of the people of the Azores have blue eyes and fair complexions. Later settlers included Jewish farmers, Bretons, and some Italians, English, and Scots. The island of Santa Maria was the first to be discovered and was where Columbus' crews paused when they returned from their first trip upon discovering America. The islands were named after a bird from the hawk family that was found in the area. The Azores are thought by some to be part of the sunken continent of Atlantis. During the period from 1580 - 1640, the Azores were occupied by Spain and used as a staging base for the Spanish fleets. The seas surrounding the islands were the site of many a fierce sea battle between France and Spain. The Azores were declared an autonomous, or self-governing, region of Portugal in 1976. Visit: http://www.portuguesefoundation.org/hispanic.htm Copyright |
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