Inherited property is 2/3 split between the spouse and all the children which is why so many buildings are abandoned. Some have been fought over for 40 years and had 40 people fighting over it.
Portugal is one of the few European countries that is one culture with one language. A lot of the larger ones (like Spain and Germany) have large regional culture differences.
Vasco De Gama’s older brother inherited their father’s rights as a nobleman. When he was a young man Vasco, sensing his ambitions would be thwarted by his junior status, considered an ecclesiastical career. Paulo (his older brother) was lined up to lead the India voyage but fell ill and King Manuel I placed the younger brother in charge of the expedition.
There are a bunch of cases where the less prestigious brother is the one who really makes the historical impact. They have the status and ambition without the responsibility. Like Da Vinci
After Portugal left East Timor, Indonesia invaded.
There were massacres but they finally gained independence in 2002
In 2000, a Brazilian opinion poll asked Brazilians to name the first famous person who came to mind when they thought of Portugal. Almost half of those questioned replied: “Nobody”
The Portuguese are neither venomous nor hostile about Spain, but resent the way the Spanish ignore them.
Weather forecasts on Spanish television channels and in newspapers simply leave the rectangle along the left side of the peninsula blank.
In 1960 just one in ten fifteen year olds was in full time education
After the revolution and first election, the atmosphere deteriorated to such a point that the exasperated prime minister announced that the government was going on strike.
Financial help by 2006 was €48 billion
In 1986 Portugal had fewer than 200km of motorway. 20 years later, they had 2000km. Portugal is 560km long and 220 wide.
Authorities in 2007 confessed that nobody knows who owns twenty per cent of the country.
Someone once described behavior on the roads as a kind of undeclared civil war. Portuguese road death stats have been among the worst in Europe.
A 1990 census showed that 30% of their household income on food, compared to the EU average of 12%. A 2008 study showed they spend 9.5% of their family income eating and drinking out, more than double the EU average.
Portugal has 3 times more restaurants per capita than the rest of the EU. One for every 131 people
The wages of pensions of civil servants devour about 15% of GDP, double the EU average.
The Portuguese are not, on the whole, an especially ambitious people. They are attractively peaceable, humble and content with their good things in life. Eating out at one of the many restaurants in good weather with family and friends, for example.
The average age of the Portuguese executives who had triumphed in Poland was 35-36.