History of Portugal

"Portugal"

Portugal's name derives from the Roman name Portus Cale (Latin for Warm Port) Cale was the name of an early settlement located at the mouth of the Douro River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean in the north of what is now Portugal. Around 200 BCE, the Romans took the Iberian Peninsula from the Carthaginians during the Second Punic War, and in the process conquered Cale and renamed it Portus Cale. During the Middle Ages, the region around Cale became known by the Visigoths as Portucale. Portucale evolved into Portugale during the 7th and 8th centuries, and by the 9th century, the term "Portugale" was used extensively to refer to the region between the rivers Douro and Minho, the Minho flowing along what would become the northern border between Portugal and Spain.

Related Topics:
Roman - Latin - Cale - Settlement - Douro River - Atlantic Ocean - 200 BCE - Iberian Peninsula - Carthaginians - Second Punic War - Middle Ages - Visigoths - 7th - 8th centuries - 9th century - Minho - Spain

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Some historians believe that the "Cale" part of Portucale derived from the Greek word Kalles ("beautiful"), referring to the beauty of the Douro Valley where ancient Greek pioneers chose to settle. Other historians claim that the earliest settlers in the region were Phoenician and that the name Cale was derived from the Phoenician languages of those who settled along the Portuguese coast in the pre-Roman period. Others say that Cale is derived from the Callaeci people who lived in the region.

Related Topics:
Greek - Douro Valley - Ancient Greek - Phoenician - Phoenician language - Callaeci

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In any case, the Portu part of the name Portucale would become Porto, the modern name for the city located on the site of the ancient city of Cale at the mouth of the Douro River. And port would become the name of the wine from the Douro Valley region around Porto. Today, Cale became Gaia (Vila Nova de Gaia), a city on the other side of the river. Many think that both cities should merge into one, due to their closeness and historical relation.

Related Topics:
Porto - Port - Vila Nova de Gaia

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