

During this period, today referred to as the Age of Discovery, Portuguese explorers pioneered maritime exploration with the discovery of what would become Brazil (1500). In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal established the first global maritime and commercial empire, becoming one of the world's major economic, political and military powers. The Kingdom of Portugal was later proclaimed following the Battle of Ourique (1139), and independence from León was recognized by the Treaty of Zamora (1143). Founded in 868, the County of Portugal gained prominence after the Battle of São Mamede (1128). Portugal as a country was established during the early Christian Reconquista. After the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors, most of its territory was part of Al-Andalus. It was inhabited by pre-Celtic and Celtic peoples, Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Ancient Greek traders, and was ruled by the Romans, who were followed by the invasions of the Suebi and Visigothic Germanic peoples. Portugal is the oldest continuously existing nation state on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the oldest in Europe, its territory having been continuously settled, invaded and fought over since prehistoric times. Its two archipelagos form two autonomous regions with their own regional governments. It features the westernmost point in mainland Europe, and its Iberian portion is bordered to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east by Spain, the sole country to have a land border with Portugal. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( Portuguese: República Portuguesa ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. ^ Portuguese Constitution adopted in 1976 with several subsequent minor revisions, between 19.Portuguese Sign Language is also recognized.

^ Mirandese, spoken in some villages of the municipality of Miranda do Douro, was officially recognized in 1999 ( Lei n.° 7/99 de 29 de Janeiro), awarding it an official right-of-use.
