For
a quick brief check The CIA Factbook | Conventional
long form: Portuguese Republic conventional short form: Portugal local long form:
Republica Portuguesa local short form: Portugal Following
its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost
much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake,
occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil
as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six
decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military
coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted
independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal entered the EC (now the
EU) in 1986. Area:
total: 92,391 sq km
land: 91,951 sq km
note: includes
Azores and Madeira Islands
water: 440 sq km Population:
10,102,022 (July 2003 est.)
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