BY ZACH BLAZEK

FAST FACTS Population: 10,566,212 people Population: 10,566,212 people Pop. Growth Rate: 0.39% per year Pop. Growth Rate: 0.39% per year Average Life Expectancy: years Average Life Expectancy: years Main Religion: Roman Catholic (94%) Main Religion: Roman Catholic (94%) Literacy Rate: 93% Literacy Rate: 93% Languages: Portuguese, Mirandese* Languages: Portuguese, Mirandese* * = Local language * = Local language

CULTURE In Portugal, your family is your life. Your extended family is closer to you than your closest friends. Loyalty to your family comes before social or business relationships. In Portugal, appearance is everything, particularly in the big city. When meeting another individual, greetings are simple and polite. People in Portugal are traditional, conservative, and friendly.

GEOGRAPHY Portugal occupies the western part of the Iberian peninsula, and is a bit smaller than Indiana. In the big picture, Portugal is located in southwestern Europe, and borders the North Atlantic Ocean. Portugal has three main rivers: The Minho River, which cuts through a mountainous area that extends south, near the vicinity of the Douro River. Just south of the Douro, the mountains slope up to the plains near the Tejo River.

INTERESTING PLACES Lisbon Museum of Ancient Art: Impressive museum that was once a big green chapel Lisbon Museum of Ancient Art: Impressive museum that was once a big green chapel Largo das Necessidades Fountain: A lavish Lisbon landmark with beautiful statues and a famous 18 th century obelisk Largo das Necessidades Fountain: A lavish Lisbon landmark with beautiful statues and a famous 18 th century obelisk Cemetery of Pleasure: A cemetery formatted like a small village, it’s built on a hill with a fantastic view of Lisbon Cemetery of Pleasure: A cemetery formatted like a small village, it’s built on a hill with a fantastic view of Lisbon Estrela Garden: Portugal’s most loved garden, built between 1842 & 1852 Estrela Garden: Portugal’s most loved garden, built between 1842 & 1852

GOVERNMENT Portugal’s government is a parliamentary democracy. It claimed its independence on October 5 th, The Portuguese Constitution was adopted on April 2 nd, 1976, but was revised many times. All legal actions are based on civil law systems. Voting age is eighteen years old. The President, Head of State and Head of the Executive Branch of Portugal is Anibal Cavaco Silva. The Prime Minister and Head of Government is Jose Socrates Carvalho Pinto de Sousa.

HISTORY What is now Portugal is not what it used to be. Portugal was occupied by a people called the Lusitanos until the 11 th century. It is believed that the Lusitanos people are the ancestors of Portugal’s people today. After the Lusitanos people left, both Romans and Moors had the territory within their grasp. Ferdinand, the leader of the Leon and Castilla people (present-day Spain) took over much of the territory about 200 years later. With the Moors and the Romans all driven out, Portugal was born. From that point on, Portugal played a big role in a scramble for European colonial territory, but in 1580, Portugal came under the command of Spain. Spain’s reign lasted 60 years, and when it ended, the Portuguese people ceased all actions involving the colonial scramble thereafter.

BIBLIOGRAPHY Simones, Manny. "Portugal." Tapestry of Tuscon Art of Computers. 22 Apr Simones, Manny. "Portugal." Tapestry of Tuscon Art of Computers. 22 Apr CIA, "Portugal People:." World Factbook: Portugal People Yahoo. 23 Apr CIA, "Portugal People:." World Factbook: Portugal People Yahoo. 23 Apr "Portugal: History, Geography, Government, and Culture." Infoplease. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. 30 Apr "Portugal: History, Geography, Government, and Culture." Infoplease. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. 30 Apr "Lisbon-Star Basilica." Planet Ware PlanetWare Inc. 3 May "Lisbon-Star Basilica." Planet Ware PlanetWare Inc. 3 May "Portugal Government 2008." Theodora.com. 12 Feb CIA World Factbook. 6 May "Portugal Government 2008." Theodora.com. 12 Feb CIA World Factbook. 6 May Correia, Pedro. "History." Portugal Travel Book Portugal- Book. 7 May Correia, Pedro. "History." Portugal Travel Book Portugal- Book. 7 May 2008.