Introduction

Portugal, officially the (Portuguese: República Portuguesa; pron. IPA [ʁɛ'publikɐ puɾtu'gezɐ]) is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, and is the westernmost country of mainland Europe. Portugal is bordered by Spain to the north and east and by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south. The Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, are also part of Portugal.

Portugal has witnessed a constant flow of different civilizations during the past 3,100 years, including Greek, Roman, Germanic, Moorish and others, who all made an imprint on the country's culture, history, language and ethnic make-up. During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal was one of the world's major economic, political, and cultural powers, with the Portuguese Empire stretching from Brazil to the Indies. With the end of the Empire in the 20th Century, Portugal turned to Europe and today is a stable democracy fully integrated in the European Union.