This concise, illustrated history of Portugal offers an introduction to the people and culture of the country, its empire, and its search for economic modernisation, political stability and international partnership. It is the first single-volume account of Portugal's history to be written since the days of dictatorship and colonisation. After a short introduction to Portugal's 2000-year history before the revolution of 1640, the book studies the effects of the vast wealth mined from Portuguese Brazil, the growth of the wine trade, and the evolution of close ties with England, Portugal's 'oldest ally'. The Portuguese Revolution of 1820 to 1851 created a liberal monarchy, but in 1910 the king was overthrown and, by 1926, had been replaced by a dictatorship which tried to overcome Portugal's poverty by building a new empire in Africa. In 1975 Portugal withdrew from its African colonies and turned north to become a democratic member of the European community.