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Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule following a revolution by Portuguese nobility; the Portugue

Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule following a revolution by Portuguese nobility; the Portuguese Restoration War begins and lasts until 1668 with recognition by Spain of the country's independence

The history of Portugal can be traced from circa 400,000 years ago, when the region of present-day Portugal was inhabited by Homo heidelbergensis.

The Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, which lasted almost two centuries, led to the establishment of the provinces of Lusitania in the south and Gallaecia in the north of what is now Portugal. Following the fall of Rome, Germanic tribes controlled the territory between the 5th and 8th centuries, including the Kingdom of the Suebi centred in Braga and the Visigothic Kingdom in the south.

The 711–716 invasion by the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate conquered the Visigoth Kingdom and founded the Islamic State of Al-Andalus, gradually advancing through Iberia. In 1095, Portugal broke away from the Kingdom of Galicia.

Historical Significance

The history of Portugal can be traced from circa 400,000 years ago, when the region of present-day Portugal was inhabited by Homo heidelbergensis.

Events Before

  1. Madras (now Chennai), India, is founded by the British East India Company on a sliver of land bought from local Nayak ru

    Madras (now Chennai), India, is founded by the British East India Company on a sliver of land bought from local Nayak rulers

  2. English astronomers Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree make the first recorded observations of a transit of Venus by

    English astronomers Jeremiah Horrocks and William Crabtree make the first recorded observations of a transit of Venus by accurately predicting its path using Johannes Kepler's methods [1]

  3. Virginia orders half of its tobacco crop destroyed to support plunging prices and avoid an economic catastrophe, the fir

    Virginia orders half of its tobacco crop destroyed to support plunging prices and avoid an economic catastrophe, the first colony to order the destruction of crops

  4. 1st Connecticut constitution (Fundamental Orders) adopted in Hartford, published by Rodger Ludlow

    1st Connecticut constitution (Fundamental Orders) adopted in Hartford, published by Rodger Ludlow

  5. Connecticut colony organizes under Fundamental Orders

    Connecticut ( kə-NET-ih-kət) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States.

Events After

  1. Dutch East India Company conquers the city of Malacca, killing about 7,000 people

    Dutch East India Company conquers the city of Malacca, killing about 7,000 people

  2. William II, Prince of Orange (14) marries English princess Mary Henrietta Stuart (9) at Whitehall Palace, London

    William II, Prince of Orange (14) marries English princess Mary Henrietta Stuart (9) at Whitehall Palace, London

  3. General Court of Election declares Rhode Island a democracy and adopts a new constitution

    General Court of Election declares Rhode Island a democracy and adopts a new constitution

  4. France and Portugal sign anti-Spanish covenant

    France and Portugal sign anti-Spanish covenant

  5. Battle at La Marfée Sedan: Earl Soisson beats French government army

    Battle at La Marfée Sedan: Earl Soisson beats French government army

More from the 1640s

Francesco Cavalli's opera "Giasone" premieres in Venice (the most popular opera of the 17th century)

Giasone (Jason) is an opera in three acts and a prologue with music by Francesco Cavalli and a libretto by Giacinto Andrea Cicognini.

The English Rump Parliament votes to put Charles I on trial for treason and other high crimes

The trial of Charles I took place in January 1649, marking the first time a reigning monarch was tried and executed by his own subjects.

Dutch East India Company conquers the city of Malacca, killing about 7,000 people

Dutch East India Company conquers the city of Malacca, killing about 7,000 people

Georgeana (York) in Maine becomes the first incorporated American city

Georgeana (York) in Maine becomes the first incorporated American city

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 1, 1640?
The history of Portugal can be traced from circa 400,000 years ago, when the region of present-day Portugal was inhabited by Homo heidelbergensis. The Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula, which lasted almost two centuries, led to the establishment of the provinces of Lusitania in the south and Gallaecia in the north of what is now Portugal. Following the fall of Rome, Germanic tribes controlled the territory between the 5th and 8th centuries, including the Kingdom of the Suebi centred in Braga and the Visigothic Kingdom in the south.
Why is Portugal regains independence after 60 years of Spanish rule following a revo... significant?
The history of Portugal can be traced from circa 400,000 years ago, when the region of present-day Portugal was inhabited by Homo heidelbergensis.

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December 1 in HistoryYear 1640