Portugal is a small country with a significant impact did you know that Portugal introduced The World To The Delectable Delight of barbecued chicken the rich flavors of port wine and the Unstoppable force of Cristiano Ronaldo but that's just the beginning of the surprises this nation holds despite its size Portugal Stands Tall in history and Innovation from Paving the way for explorers during the age of Discovery to its modern-day contributions in technology and culture Portugal is full of surprises stay tuned to cover fascinating facts about this charming Iberian nation that will Amaze you number one one of the oldest nations in Europe did you know that Portugal holds the title of the oldest nation state in Europe established in 1143 Portugal's borders were set in the mid3 the Beast Century making it not only ancient in European terms but also among the world's oldest nations from as early as 1415 Portugal embarked on an ambitious journey of exploration and expansion they spread their language and culture to five continents extending their territories to the azors and Madera archipelagos and even establishing colonies in Africa East timour and India in the 18th century the Marquee of pombal spearheaded educational reforms laying the groundwork for a network of public primary schools across the country however the turbulent 19th century saw Portugal grappling with economic crisis and political instability hindering further progress in education fast forward to the 20th century where Portugal saw shifts in power from monarchy to dictatorship Antonio de Oliva Salazar's regime lasting until 1974 prioritized control over education resulting in a lag behind European standards but change was on the horizon the Carnation revolution of 1974 brought an end to dictatorship Paving the way for democracy and educational reform today Portugal stands as a modern democratic state with a strong focus on education and cultural ties by becoming a member of the European economic community in 1986 and adopting the euro in 1999 they achieved significant Milestones towards their goal of global integration these bold steps have helped them to collaborate with other nations and have opened doors to new opportunities for Portugal speaking of Global Connections Portugal's commitment to its Portuguese speaking counterparts led to the formation of the community of Portuguese speaking countries C PLP fostering cultural and economic ties across borders and as we move forward Portugal continues to invest in education with a focus on building a knowledge-based economy and reducing early School Leaving rates number two Lisbon's catastrophic earthquake tragedy on the morning of November 1st 1755 the city of Lisbon was rocked by a series of earthquakes buildings crumbled streets cracked and panic swept through the population like wildfire but what what makes this event Stand Out amongst all others in history well brace yourselves because Lisbon suffered one of the world's largest natural disasters ever recorded as the Earth trembled beneath their feet over 60,000 Souls lost their lives in Lisbon alone can you imagine the sheer Terror of being caught in such chaos it wasn't just the initial Tremors that brought destruction the Quake triggered something far more Sinister a tsunami the trembling Earth gave birth to towering waves waves some reaching a staggering 65 ft in height these walls of water crashed upon the shores of Lisbon and Beyond leaving Devastation in their wake but the reach of this catastrophe didn't stop there the waves traveled across the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean reaching as far as the Caribbean Sea can you imagine the shock of witnessing such a Relentless force of nature thousands of miles away from its epicenter in the aftermath the city lay in Ruins it's once bustling streets now silent but amidst the rubble a resilience emerged the people of Lisbon like Phoenix's rising from the ashes began to rebuild their shattered lives today as we walk through the vibrant streets of Lisbon it's easy to forget the trials of the past but let's not forget the lessons it taught us the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 remains a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the awesome power of nature number three the maximum prison sentence is 25 years did you know that in Portugal the maximum prison sentence is capped at 25 years according to the Portuguese Penal Code no matter the severity of the crime the longest someone can be imprisoned is a quarter of a century now you might be thinking but what if someone commits multiple serious crimes well even in the case of multiple offenses such as homicides the total combined sentence cannot exceed 25 years behind bars unlike some countries Portugal has abolished the death penalty altogether so you won't find any executions happening here but why what's the rationale Behind these laws well Portugal places a strong emphasis on Rehabilitation and the belief in the potential for individuals to change instead of locking people away for life or resorting to Capital Punishment the focus is on reforming offenders and reintegrating them into society it's a fascinating aspect ECT of Portuguese culture and justice system wouldn't you agree and it's a testament to the progressive values that shape the country number four decriminalization of all drugs Portugal has made history by becoming the first country in the world to decriminalize all drugs including Heavy Hitters like methamphetamin and heroin but wait what does decriminalization really mean well it doesn't mean that drugs are suddenly legal and freely available on every street corner instead it means that drug possession for personal use is no longer considered a criminal offense picture this you're caught with a small amount of a controlled substance instead of facing jail time you're now redirected towards treatment and support services back in the90s Portugal was grappling with a severe drug epidemic and a surge in HIV cases traditional approaches to drug control like harsh penalties and incarceration were simply not working the government realized ized that they needed a radical shift in strategy by decriminalizing drug use Portugal aimed to reduce the stigma associated with addiction encourage people to seek help without fear of legal repercussions and focus law enforcement efforts on tackling drug trafficking networks and guess what it worked today Portugal has some of the lowest drug usage rates in the European Union Yes you heard that right despite initial skepticism this Innovative approach has proven to be a resounding success it's not about turning a blind eye to drug use but rather about treating it as a public health issue rather than a criminal one now you might be wondering does this mean Portugal is a free-for-all when it comes to drugs absolutely not drug trafficking remains a serious criminal offense and law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on illicit drug networks it's all about finding the right balance between compassion and accountability number five first country to to abolish slavery when we think about the history of slavery Portugal isn't usually the first country that comes to mind Portugal was actually deeply involved in the transatlantic slave trade much like Britain and other European powers of the time however in 1819 Portugal did something truly remarkable they abolished slavery that's a whopping 14 years before Britain Now isn't that something you might be wondering why did Portugal decide to abolish slavery so early well there were a few factors at play firstly there was growing pressure from other European nations to end the slave trade Portugal being a global player wanted to maintain its reputation and avoid potential conflicts with other powers additionally there were internal movements within Portugal advocating for the abolition of slavery fueled by moral and ethical considerations Portugal didn't just stop at abolishing slavery within its own borders they took it a step further by actively working to suppress the slav trade in their colonies this meant cracking down on illegal slave ships and actively enforcing anti-slavery laws in regions under Portuguese control it was a bold move that set Portugal apart from other Colonial powers of the time number six Portugal and Spain once divided up the world you might have heard the myth that Portugal conquered half the world but here's the truth while Portugal and Spain didn't conquer half the world they did something quite extraordinary back in 1494 they signed a significant agreement known as the Treaty of toras this treaty approved by the Vatican was a big deal it was like drawing a giant line across the globe dividing up the navigational and Colonial rights between these two seafaring Nations picture this diplomats sitting around a table debating where to draw this line eventually they settled on one approximately along the 25° W Meridian that's roughly smack dab between Cape Verde and Cuba so what did this line mean well it was supposed to be like a boundary separating Portugal's sphere of influence from Spain's Portugal got one side Spain got the other neat and tidy right while Portugal and Spain were busy patting themselves on the back for this agreement other countries weren't exactly lining up to congratulate them nope countries like England and the Netherlands notably Protestant Nations basically Shrugged and said eh we'll do our own thing yep while Portugal and Spain were carving up the world on paper other emerging Naval Powers were out there doing their own exploring and colonizing so while the Treaty of tortillas was a big deal for Portugal and Spain it didn't really mean much to everyone else number seven the longest dictatorship in Europe Portugal holds a unique record in Europe the longest lasting dictatorship lasting a staggering 48 years from 1926 to 1974 this period was dominated by the rule of Antonio de Oliva Salazar a figure whose influence shaped the country for decades Salazar's rule was marked by a staunch nationalistic conservatism heavily influenced by Catholicism under his leadership Portugal saw the rise of what's known as the estado novo or the new state the dictatorship in Portugal unfolded in three distinct phases it began as a military dictatorship known as dadura militar from 1926 to 1928 this phase was characterized by the military's grip on power then came the national dictatorship or dadura national lasting from 1928 to 1933 during this period Salazar Consolidated his power and implemented his vision for Portugal finally we have the estado novo from 1933 to 1974 the longest and most enduring phase of the dictatorship this era saw Portugal under Salazar's iron grip with strict sensorship and limited political freedoms but as they say all good or in this case not so good things must come to an end and so it did with a remarkable event known as the Carnation Revolution on April 25th 1974 this peaceful Uprising symbolized by the distribution of carnations among the people and soldiers marked the end of the dictatorship every year on April 25th Portugal celebrates Freedom Day or di de liberdad commemorating the country's transition to democracy it's a reminder of the resilience of the Portuguese people and their Journey towards freedom and democracy number eight Portugal introduced te to England Our Story begins in 1662 when Katherine of briganza a Portuguese princess married Charles II of England little did the English know they were about to welcome more than just royalty into their lives Catherine brought with her a beloved beverage from Portugal te now te wasn't entirely unknown in England at the time but it was Catherine's fondness for this aromatic infusion that truly SP marked a Revolution coming from a culture where tea was a staple Catherine introduced it to the English court and it quickly became the Talk of the Town imagine the scene ladies in extravagant gowns delicately sipping tea discussing the latest gossip and politics Catherine's influence was undeniable and soon tea became more than just a beverage it became a symbol of Elegance and sophistication but Catherine's impact didn't stop there her love for tea spread like wildfire captivating not only the elite but also the common folk it wasn't long before tea houses popped up across England offering everyone a taste of this newfound luxury number nine a staggering number of Portuguese live abroad did you know that Portugal holds the title for the highest immigration rate in the European Union over 2 million Portuguese citizens which is roughly 20% of the entire population have decided to call other countries home that's a massive number isn't it but why are so many Portuguese leaving their Homeland well it's all about seeking better opportunities between 2011 and 2014 alone nearly half a million Portuguese workers waved goodbye to Portugal in pursuit of a brighter future Elsewhere One such destination that has become a significant hub for the Portuguese diaspora is Luxembourg in 2021 this tiny yet prosperous country hosted close to 100 th000 Portuguese residents that's a whopping 14.5% of luxembourg's entire population more than 2 million Portuguese citizens now reside abroad but here's the kicker if we include the descendants of these immigrants the total population with Portuguese origins in host countries balloons to over 5 million that's a staggering 40% of the population residing in Portugal itself it's a testament to the dynamic and resilient nature of the Portuguese people despite leaving their Homeland they've made their Mark around the world contributing to the rich tapestry of global culture and Society number 10 Portugal is famous for its tiles Portuguese tiles known as azulejos are not just your average ceramic squares oh no they are an integral part of Portugal's history and culture dating back to the 13th century these stunning tiles were first introduced by the Arabs during their Invasion but it wasn't until the time of King D Manuel worst that they truly made their money Mark Legend has it that King D Manuel worst was so captivated by the Brilliance of seville's tiles that he imported them to Adorn his Palace walls thus igniting Portugal's love affair with azulejos and boy did they become popular almost every building in Portugal boasts these intricate designs each telling its own unique story now you might be wondering about the Striking blue and white combination that dominates Portuguese tiles well during the age of discoveries these colors were all the rage associ ated with wealth and power they became synonymous with Portugal's Maritime prowess influenced by Oriental porcelain and Dutch Aesthetics these tiles became a Hallmark of Portuguese architecture crafted with precision and Care Portuguese tiles undergo a meticulous process from shaping and painting to glazing and baking each tile is a work of art in itself and to preserve this Rich tradition Portugal even boasts its own dedicated Museum the national tile Museum in Lisbon initially confined to the Interiors of wealthy homes and religious institutions these tiles eventually found their way onto the facades of buildings transforming Portugal's Urban landscape whether adorning a humble abode or a majestic Cathedral each tile tells a story reflecting the creativity and craftsmanship of its creators so there you have it folks from humble beginnings to intricate masterpieces these tiles have truly stood the test of time and and the next time you find yourself strolling through the streets of Portugal take a moment to admire the beauty that surrounds you for behind every tile lies a story waiting to be told thanks for watching and don't forget to hit that like button and subscribe for more content like this see you in the next video