weak period

[ˈpɪərɪəd]

accounting period отчетный период accounting period период бухгалтерской отчетности accounting period расчетный период accounting period учетный период accounting period финансовый год accrual period период накопления (средств) additional maturity period пролонгированный срок долгового обязательства amortization period срок погашения долга в рассрочку average collection period средний срок взыскания долгов balancing period период сальдирования basic rental period основной срок аренды billing period расчетный период billing period расчетный срок budget period бюджетный период busy period период занятости carry-back period период покрытия убытков компании за счет прибыли за прошлое время circulation period период обращения construction period период строительства contract period срок действия контракта cooling period период охлаждения cooling-off period период обдумывания и переговоров credit period срок кредита deflationary period дефляционный период delay period период задержки delay period период запаздывания delivery period срок доставки earning period период пребывания на оплачиваемой работе election period период выборов electoral period период выборов elimination period период ликвидации exemption period период освобождения от налога extension period продленный срок financial period финансовый период fiscal period период налогообложения forbearance period период воздержания от действия forbearance period период отказа от применения принудительных мер forecasting period период прогнозирования forecasting period прогнозируемый период period время, эпоха; our own period наша эпоха, наше время; the girl of the period тип современной девушки given period данный период given period установленный срок grace period льготный период grace period льготный срок grace period период отсрочки guarantee period гарантийный срок holiday period отпускной период idle period нерабочий период idle period перерыв в работе idle period период бездействия idle period простой inactive period неэффективный период income period период получения дохода indemnity period гарантийный период indemnity period период компенсации убытков indemnity period срок возмещения вреда, ущерба, убытков inquiry period срок расследования insurance period срок страхования interest-paying period период начисления процентов intervening period наступающий период intervention period интервенционный период lean period неурожайное время legal storage period установленный законом период хранения legislative period законодательный период licensing period срок лицензирования loan period срок погашения ссуды lock-up period срок действия глобальных обязательств lock-up period бирж. срок запрета продажи maturity period период, когда наступает срок платежа mustering period период освидетельствования period время, эпоха; our own period наша эпоха, наше время; the girl of the period тип современной девушки part period неполный период pay period период платежа pay-back period срок возврата денег payback period период окупаемости капиталовложений payment period срок платежа payoff period период окупаемости payout period срок выплаты peak period период максимального товарооборота peak period период максимальной нагрузки period время, эпоха; our own period наша эпоха, наше время; the girl of the period тип современной девушки period время period круг, цикл period pl менструация period относящийся к определенному периоду (о мебели, платье и т. п.) period пауза в конце периода; точка; to put a period (to smth.) поставить точку; положить конец (чему-л.) period период, промежуток времени period мат., астр., геол. период period грам. период, большое сложное законченное предложение period период; промежуток времени; period of years определенный период времени period период period промежуток времени period pl риторическая речь period риторическая речь period срок period стадия period for lodging appeal срок обжалования апелляции period of a partnership период сотрудничества period of acquisition период приобретения period of adversity неблагоприятный период period of adversity период пассивного баланса period of assessment период оценки в целях налогообложения period of cancellation срок окончательной оплаты period of cancellation срок погашения period of comparison период сравнения period of contribution срок взноса period of cover период страхования period of crisis период кризиса period of employment период занятости period of employment период работы (на рабочем месте) period of gestation период беременности period of grace льготный срок period of high cost of living период высокого прожиточного минимума period of high interest rates период высоких ставок процента period of hire срок проката period of indemnification срок возмещения убытка period of indemnification срок компенсации period of indemnity срок возмещения убытка period of indemnity срок компенсации period of insurance период действия договора страхования period of intervention период валютной интервенции period of irremovability период несмещения с должности period of limitation срок исковой давности period of loan срок кредитования period of nonterminability период несмещения с должности period of notice срок извещения period of notice срок оповещения period of notice срок уведомления period of notice of termination of contract срок уведомления о расторжении контракта period of notification срок уведомления period of operation период эксплуатации period of operation рабочий период period of payment срок платежа period of production время производства period of prosperity период процветания period of quiet период застоя period of recession период спада period of reference срок передачи на рассмотрение period of repayment срок выплаты period of repayment срок погашения period of report отчетный период period of report период отсрочки платежа за купленные акции на Лондонской фондовой бирже period of residence срок проживания period of scarcity период дефицита period of service продолжительность работы period of slack growth период медленного роста period of storage период хранения period of taxation период налогообложения period of time период времени period of transition переходный период period of use продолжительность использования period of validity срок действия period of vigorous growth период интенсивного роста period период; промежуток времени; period of years определенный период времени period of zero growth период нулевого роста period to maturity срок платежа period to maturity срок погашения policy period период ограниченной ответственности фирмы за дефекты policy period срок действия страхового полиса policy period срок страхования post-war period послевоенный период practice period практика, период практики (в учебной программе) preceding period предшествующий период preliminary period предварительный период premium period срок уплаты страхового взноса probation period испытательный срок (период обучения или работы) probationary period испытательный срок period пауза в конце периода; точка; to put a period (to smth.) поставить точку; положить конец (чему-л.) qualifying period испытательный срок quiet period период регистрации займа в Комиссии по ценным бумагам и биржам в США recession period период спада redemption period период возвращения долга redemption period период выкупа redemption period период погашения reference period базовый период reference period отчетный период relevant period соответствующий период remaining period оставшийся срок renewal period период восстановления repayment period срок выплаты repayment period срок погашения reporting period отчетный период rollover period период очередной фиксации плавающей ставки по кредиту run-in period период обкатки run-in period период приработки rush period период наибольшей нагрузки settlement period платежный период settling period расчетный период shakedown period вчт. период освоения shipping period навигационный период slack period период затишья slack period спад в промышленности specified period установленный период steady period период стабильности subscription period период подписки tax period период налогообложения taxation period период налогообложения transition period переходный период transition: period attr. переходный; transition period переходный период; transition curve мат. переходная кривая; transition stage переходная стадия transitional period переходный период transitional period промежуточный период trial period испытательный срок trial period срок испытания trial: period attr. пробный, испытательный; trial period испытательный срок unemployment period период безработицы useful life period период нормальной эксплуатации validity period срок юридического действия waiting period время ожидания waiting period период ожидания (до наступления права на пособие и т. д.) waiting period период отсрочки ответственности страховщика waiting period срок ожидания weak period период затишья weak period спад производства winding up period ликвидационный период

1) General subject: slack season, slack period

2) Business: weak period

3) Makarov: lucid interval

1) General subject: decline in output

2) Economy: downswing, falling-off of production, setback in production

3) Mass media: production decline

4) Business: decline in production, downstream, drop in output, drop in production, falling-off in production, output gap, weak period

1 spot, dot (marca).

recorte por la línea de puntos cut along the dotted line

2 full stop (British), period (United States).

dos puntos (sobre i, j, en dirección de correo electrónico) colon

poner los puntos sobre las íes (figurative) to dot the i's and cross the t's

y punto (informal) and that's that

punto y aparte full stop o (British) period, new paragraph (United States)

punto y coma semicolon

punto final full stop (British), period (United States)

poner punto final a algo (figurative) to bring something to a close

punto y seguido full stop (British), period (United States)

puntos suspensivos (no new paragraph) dots, suspension points

3 point.

ganar/perder por seis puntos to win/lose by six points

4 point (asunto).

punto débil/fuerte weak/strong point

puntos a tratar matters to be discussed

punto de vista point of view, viewpoint

5 spot, place (place).

este es el punto exacto donde ocurrió todo this is the exact spot where it all happened

punto de apoyo fulcrum; (en palanca) backup, support (figurative)

punto cardinal point of the compass, cardinal point (specialist term)

punto de contacto point of contact

punto de encuentro meeting point

punto negro blackhead; (grano) accident blackspot (en carretera)

punto de venta (commerce) point of sale; retail outlet (tienda)

6 point, moment (momento).

llegar a un punto en que… to reach the stage where…

estando las cosas en este punto things being as they are

punto culminante high point

punto de ebullición/fusión boiling/melting point

punto de inflexión turning point

punto de partida starting point

7 stitch (puntada).

punto de cruz cross-stitch

8 knitting.

hacer punto to knit

un jersey de punto a knitted jumper

punto de ganchillo crochet

9 period, full stop.

10 guy.

11 pixel.

12 punctus, punctum.

1^st person singular (yo) present indicative of spanish verb: puntar.

* * *

► nombre masculino

1 (gen) point

2 (marca) dot

3 (tanto) point

■ nos llevan cinco puntos de ventaja they're five points ahead of us

4 (detrás de abreviatura) dot; (al final de la oración) full stop, US period

5 (lugar) spot

■ ¿en qué punto de la carretera se encuentran? exactly where on the road are they?

6 (tema) point

7 (tejido) knitwear

■ me he comprado una falda de punto I bought a knitted skirt

8 (en costura, sutura) stitch

■ me caí y me dieron tres puntos en la barbilla I fell and needed three stitches on my chin

9 (de libro) bookmark

10 (en la media) ladder, US run

\

a punto de caramelo (en repostería) caramelized 2 (en su punto) just right, perfect

■ pídele el aumento ahora que está a punto de caramelo ask him for a rise now that he's in the mood

a punto de nieve stiff

■ tienes que batir las claras a punto de nieve you have to beat the egg whites stiff

al punto (rápidamente) immediately

coger un punto familiar to get tipsy, get merry

con puntos y comas in detail

dar en el punto to hit the nail on the head

de todo punto absolutely

en punto sharp, on the dot

■ son las tres en punto it's exactly three o'clock

estar a punto to be ready

estar a punto de to be about to, be on the point of

■ ese jarrón está a punto de caerse that vase is about to fall

■ estuvimos a punto de matarnos we nearly got killed

estar en su punto (comida) to be cooked to perfection

■ la pasta está en su punto the pasta is just right

■ este pastel te ha quedado en su punto this cake has turned out perfect

ganar puntos to win points

ganar por puntos to win on points

hacer punto to knit

hasta cierto punto up to a certain point

hasta tal punto que... to such an extent that...

llegar a punto to arrive on time

perder puntos (gen) to lose points 2 (alumno) to lose marks

■ perdió puntos porque su letra era mala he lost marks because of his bad handwriting

poner los puntos sobre las íes to dot one's i's and cross one's t's

poner punto final a algo to put an end to something

¡punto en boca! mum's the word!

punto por punto in detail

dos puntos colon

punto cadena chain stitch

punto cardinal cardinal point

punto culminante climax

punto de apoyo (en palanca) fulcrum 2 (base) cornerstone

punto de arranque beginning

punto de break break point

punto de congelación freezing point

punto de contacto point of contact

punto de cruz cross-stitch

punto de ebullición boiling point

punto de encuentro meeting point

punto de fusión melting point

punto de libro bookmark

punto de media stocking stitch

punto de mira (objetivo) target 2 (en rifle) sight, front sight 3 (punto de vista) viewpoint

punto de partida starting point

punto de partido match point

punto de referencia point of reference

punto de ruptura break point

punto de servicio service point

punto de set set point

punto de sutura stitch

punto de venta sales outlet

punto de vista point of view

punto débil weak point

punto decimal decimal point

punto del revés purl stitch

punto final (en dictado) full stop, US period

punto flaco weak point

punto fuerte strong point

punto muerto (en un coche) neutral 2 (en una negociación) standstill, stalemate, deadlock

■ deja el coche en punto muerto leave the car in neutral

■ las negociaciones ha entrado en punto muerto the negotiations have reached a stalemate

punto negro (en la piel) blackhead 2 (en la carretera) black spot

punto neurálgico nerve centre

punto y aparte (en ortografía) full stop, new paragraph, US period, new paragraph

punto y coma semicolon

punto y seguido full stop, new sentence, US period, new sentence

* * *

1) point

2) dot

3) period

4) stitch

•

- dos puntos

* * *

1) (=topo) [en un diseño] dot, spot; [en plumaje] spot, speckle; [en carta, dominó] spot, pip

2) (=signo) [en la i] dot; [de puntuación] full stop, period (EEUU)

- con puntos y comas

- poner los puntos sobre las íes

- sin faltar punto ni coma

3) (Dep) point

- perder muchos puntos

4) (=tema) [gen] point; [en programa de actividades] item

5) (=labor) knitting; (=tejido) knitted fabric, knit

6) (Cos, Med) (=puntada) stitch; [de media] loose stitch

- ¡punto en boca!

7) (=lugar) [gen] spot, place; (Geog, Mat) point; [de proceso] point, stage; [en el tiempo] point, moment

8) [otras locuciones]

- coger o ligar o pillar un buen punto

- cogerle o pillarle el punto a algn

- saber algo a punto fijo

- de todo punto

9) Esp * (=hombre) guy *; pey rogue

10) (=agujero) hole

11) (Inform) pixel

* * *

1)

a) (señal, trazo) dot

b) (Ling) (sobre la `i', la `j') dot; ( signo de puntuación) period (AmE), full stop (BrE)

- punto decimal

- punto final

- puntos suspensivos

- punto y aparte

- punto y coma

- punto y seguido

2)

a) (momento, lugar) point

b) ( en geometría) point

- punto álgido

- punto cardinal

- punto culminante

- punto de apoyo

- punto débil

- punto de caramelo

- punto de congelación/ebullición/fusión

- punto de mira

- punto de nieve

- punto de partida

- punto de penalty or penalti

- punto de referencia

- punto de venta

- punto de vista

- punto fijo

- punto flaco/fuerte

- punto muerto

- punto neurálgico

3) ( grado) point, extent

4) (asunto, aspecto) point

5) (en locs)

6)

a) (en costura, labores) stitch

b) ( en cirugía) tb

- punto cruz

- punto del derecho

- punto del revés

- punto elástico

7) (Dep, Jueg) point; (Educ) point, mark; (Fin) point

- punto para partido/set

8) (Per, RPl arg) ( tonto) idiot

* * *

1)

a) (señal, trazo) dot

b) (Ling) (sobre la `i', la `j') dot; ( signo de puntuación) period (AmE), full stop (BrE)

- punto decimal

- punto final

- puntos suspensivos

- punto y aparte

- punto y coma

- punto y seguido

2)

a) (momento, lugar) point

b) ( en geometría) point

- punto álgido

- punto cardinal

- punto culminante

- punto de apoyo

- punto débil

- punto de caramelo

- punto de congelación/ebullición/fusión

- punto de mira

- punto de nieve

- punto de partida

- punto de penalty or penalti

- punto de referencia

- punto de venta

- punto de vista

- punto fijo

- punto flaco/fuerte

- punto muerto

- punto neurálgico

3) ( grado) point, extent

4) (asunto, aspecto) point

5) (en locs)

6)

a) (en costura, labores) stitch

b) ( en cirugía) tb

- punto cruz

- punto del derecho

- punto del revés

- punto elástico

7) (Dep, Jueg) point; (Educ) point, mark; (Fin) point

- punto para partido/set

8) (Per, RPl arg) ( tonto) idiot

* * *

punto¹

¹ = point, pointer.

punto²

² = bullet point.

punto³

³ = dot, full stop (.), period, stop.

punto⁴

⁴ = point.

punto⁵

⁵ = stitch.

* * *

1 (señal, trazo) dot

desde el avión la ciudad se veía como un conjunto de puntos luminosos from the plane the city looked like a cluster of pinpoints of light o of bright dots

el barco no era más que un punto en el horizonte the boat was no more than a dot o speck on the horizon

2 ( Ling) (sobre la `i', la `j') dot; (signo de puntuación) period ( AmE), full stop ( BrE)

a punto fijo exactly, for certain

no le sabría decir a punto fijo cuándo llegan I couldn't tell you exactly o for certain when they will be arriving

… y punto: si te parece mal se lo dices y punto if you don't like it you just tell him, that's all there is to it

lo harás como yo digo y punto you'll do it the way I tell you and that's that, you'll do it the way I tell you, period ( AmE) o ( BrE) full stop

poner los puntos sobre las íes (dejar algo en claro) to make sth crystal clear; (terminar algo con mucho cuidado) to dot the i's and cross the t's

sin faltar un punto ni una coma down to the last detail

dos¹ (↑ dos (1))

[ Vocabulary notes (Spanish) ] decimal point

period ( AmE), full stop ( BrE)

poner punto final a algo to end sth

decidió poner punto final a sus relaciones he decided to end their relationship

mpl ellipsis ( tech), suspension points (pl) ( AmE), dot, dot, dot

period, new paragraph ( AmE), full stop, new paragraph ( BrE)

semicolon

period ( AmE), full stop ( BrE) ( no new paragraph)

1 (momento) point

en ese punto de la conversación at that point in the conversation

su popularidad alcanzó su punto más bajo his popularity reached its lowest ebb o point

2 (lugar) point; (en geometría) point

fijó la mirada en un punto lejano del horizonte she fixed her gaze on a distant point on the horizon

están buscando un local en un punto céntrico they are looking for premises somewhere central

en el punto en que la carretera se divide at the point where the road divides

el punto donde ocurrió el accidente the spot o place where the accident happened

( Esp) ( Aviac) air mile

crucial moment o point

cardinal point

blind spot

critical point

high point

(para una palanca) fulcrum

no hay ningún punto de apoyo para la escalera there is nowhere to lean the ladder

constituía el punto de apoyo de su defensa it formed the cornerstone of his defense

punto de partida

weak point

a punto de caramelo ‹almíbar› caramelized

(en su mejor momento) ( fam): este queso está a punto de caramelo this cheese is just right (for eating)

yo no lo encuentro viejo, para mí está a punto de caramelo I don't think he's old, if you ask me he's in his prime o he's just right

la situación está a punto de caramelo para otro golpe militar the situation is ripe for another military coup

freezing point

point of contact

el movimiento tiene muchos puntos de contacto con el surrealismo the movement has a lot in common with surrealism

checkpoint

boiling point

vanishing point

melting point

point of inflexion ( on a curve)

( Inf) breakpoint

( Esp) bookmark

(de un rifle) front sight; (blanco) target; (objetivo) aim, objective; (punto de vista) point of view

batir las claras a punto de nieve beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks

point of no return

(sitio) starting point; (de un proceso, razonamiento) starting point

esta dramática escalada tiene un claro punto de partida en los sucesos del mes pasado this dramatic escalation clearly has its origins in the events of last month

penalty spot

reference point

meeting place, assembly point

( Méx) punto de nieve

point of sale, outlet, sales outlet

unique selling point

(perspectiva) viewpoint, point of view; (opinión) views (pl)

desde un punto de vista técnico from a technical viewpoint, from a technical point of view

todos conocen mi punto de vista sobre este asunto you all know my views on this matter

( Chi) (lugar) permanent or semi-permanent guard post; (vigilante) guard

está en punto fijo toda la noche he is on guard duty all night

weak point

habrá que esperar a que las cosas lleguen a su punto medio we'll have to wait until things sort themselves out

hay que buscar el punto medio entre las dos cosas you have to strike a balance between the two things

( Auto) neutral; ( Fin) break even point; (en negociaciones) deadlock

las conversaciones han llegado a un punto muerto the talks have reached deadlock o stalemate

el proceso está en punto muerto the process is deadlocked

(en la carretera) black spot; (en la piel) blackhead

( Anat) nerve center*; (de una organización, un sistema) nerve center*

un accidente en uno de los puntos neurálgicos de la ciudad an accident at one of the busiest spots o points in the city

uno de los puntos neurálgicos de la economía one of the key elements of the economy

C (grado) point, extent

hasta cierto punto tiene razón she's right, up to a point

hasta cierto punto me alegro de que se vaya to a certain extent o in a way I'm glad she's going

claro que fue atento y amable, hasta tal punto que llegó a resultarnos pesado of course he was attentive and kind, so much so that it got a bit much for us

D (asunto, aspecto) point

en ese punto no estoy de acuerdo contigo I don't agree with you on that point

los puntos a tratar en la reunión de hoy the matters o items on the agenda for today's meeting

hay algunos puntos de coincidencia entre los dos enfoques the two approaches have some points in common

analizamos la propuesta punto por punto we analyzed the proposal point by point

E ( en locs):

a punto (a tiempo) just in time

( Coc) en su punto

has llegado a punto para ayudarme you've arrived just in time to help me

estábamos a punto de cenar cuando llamaste we were about to have dinner when you phoned

estuvo a punto de matarse en el accidente he was nearly killed in the accident, he came within an inch of being killed in the accident

estaba a punto de decírmelo cuando tú entraste she was on the point of telling me o she was about to tell me when you came in

se notaba que estaba a punto de llorar you could see she was on the verge of tears

en su punto just right

el arroz está en su punto the rice is just right

la carne estaba en su punto the meat was done to a turn

al punto ( Esp); right away, at once, straightaway ( BrE)

en punto: te espero a las 12 en punto I'll expect you at 12 o'clock sharp

son las tres en punto it's exactly three o'clock

llegaron en punto they arrived exactly on time, they arrived on the dot o dead on time ( colloq)

de todo punto absolutely, totally

eso es de todo punto inaceptable that is totally o completely unacceptable

se negaba de todo punto a hacerlo she absolutely o flatly refused to do it

1 (en costura) stitch

punto en boca ( fam): y ya saben, diga lo que diga él, nosotros punto en boca and remember, whatever he says, we keep our mouths shut

2 (en cirugía) tb

punto de sutura stitch

le tuvieron que poner puntos she had to have stitches

3 (en labores) stitch

se me ha escapado un punto I've dropped a stitch

artículos de punto knitwear

hacer punto ( Esp); to knit

backstitch

chain stitch

herringbone stitch

cross-stitch

herringbone stitch

plain stitch

purl stitch

stocking stitch

rib, ribbing

stocking stitch

garter stitch

shadow stitch

1 (unidad) ( Dep, Jueg) point; ( Educ) point, mark

venció por puntos he won on points

tiene dos punto de ventaja sobre Clark he is two points ahead of Clark, he has a two point advantage over Clark

pierdes dos puntos por cada falta de ortografía you lose two marks o points for every spelling mistake

anotarse/marcarse un punto ( fam): la paella está exquisita, te has anotado un punto ten out of ten o ( BrE) full marks for the paella, it's delicious

matarle el punto a algn (CS fam); to go one better than sb

subir de punto «ira/admiración» to grow;

«discusión» to heat up, grow heated

2 ( Fin) point

match point

break point

set point

percentage point

(poco, pizca): es orgulloso, con un punto de bravuconería he's proud, with just a touch o hint of boastfulness about him

1 (Per, RPl arg) (tonto) idiot

agarrar or tomar a algn de punto (Per, RPl arg): lo han agarrado de punto (burlándose de él) they've made him the butt of their jokes; (aprovechándose de él) they've taken him for a ride ( colloq)

la profesora me ha agarrado de punto the teacher has it in for me ( colloq)

2 ( RPl arg) (tipo) guy ( colloq)

* * *

a) (señal, marca) dot

b) (Ling) (sobre la `i', la `j') dot;

◊ punto decimal decimal point ;

a) (momento, lugar) point;

◊ en ese punto de la conversación at that point in the conversation;

◊ punto flaco/fuerte weak/strong point;

b) ( en geometría) point

◊ hasta cierto punto tiene razón she's right, up to a point;

◊ analizar algo punto por punto to analyze sth point by point;

◊ a punto ( a tiempo) just in time;

a) (en costura, labores) stitch;

◊ artículos de punto knitwear;

b) ( en cirugía) tb

◊ punto de sutura stitch

a) Dep, Jueg) point;

◊ punto para partido/set (Méx) match/set point

b) (Educ) point, mark;

* * *

♦ nm

1. [marca] dot, spot;

recorte por la línea de puntos cut along the dotted line

2. [signo ortográfico] [al final de frase] Br full stop, US period;

dos puntos colon;

no vas a ir, y punto you're not going, and that's that;

poner los puntos sobre las íes to dot the i's and cross the t's

punto y aparte Br full stop o US period, new paragraph;

punto y coma semicolon;

punto final Br full stop, US period;

poner punto final a algo to bring sth to an end;

punto y seguido Br full stop, US period [no new paragraph];

puntos suspensivos suspension points

3. [unidad] [en juegos, competiciones, exámenes, bolsa] point;

ganar/perder por seis puntos to win/lose by six points;

ganar por puntos [en boxeo] to win on points;

el índice Dow Jones ha subido seis puntos the Dow Jones index is up six points;

los tipos de interés bajarán un punto interest rates will go down by one (percentage) point

punto de juego game point;

punto de partido match point;

punto porcentual percentage point;

punto de set set point

4. [asunto, parte] point;

pasemos al siguiente punto let's move on to the next point;

te lo explicaré punto por punto I'll explain it to you point by point;

tenemos los siguientes puntos a tratar we have the following items on the agenda

punto fuerte strong point

5. [lugar] spot, place;

éste es el punto exacto donde ocurrió todo this is the exact spot where it all happened;

hay retenciones en varios puntos de la provincia there are delays at several different points across the province

los puntos cardinales the points of the compass, Espec the cardinal points;

punto ciego [en el ojo] blind spot;

punto de encuentro meeting point;

punto G g-spot;

punto de inflexión tipping point;

punto de mira [en armas] sight;

está en mi punto de mira [es mi objetivo] I have it in my sights;

punto negro [en la piel] blackhead;

punto neurálgico [de ser vivo, organismo] nerve centre;

la plaza mayor es el punto neurálgico de la ciudad the main square is the town's busiest crossroads;

éste es el punto neurálgico de la negociación this is the central issue at stake in the negotiations;

punto de partida starting point;

punto de penalti o penalty penalty spot;

punto de referencia point of reference;

punto de reunión meeting point;

en el punto de venta at the point of sale;

tenemos puntos de venta en todo el país we have (sales) outlets across the country;

punto de venta autorizado authorized dealer;

punto de venta electrónico electronic point of sale;

punto de vista point of view, viewpoint;

bajo mi punto de vista… in my view…;

desde el punto de vista del dinero… in terms of money…

6. [momento] point, moment;

lo dejamos en este punto del debate y seguimos tras la publicidad we'll have to leave the discussion here for the moment, we'll be back after the break;

al punto at once, there and then;

en punto exactly, on the dot;

a las seis en punto at six o'clock on the dot, at six o'clock sharp;

son las seis en punto it's (exactly) six o'clock;

estar a punto to be ready;

estuve a punto de cancelar el viaje I was on the point of cancelling the trip;

estamos a punto de firmar un importante contrato we are on the verge o point of signing an important contract;

estaba a punto de salir cuando… I was about to leave when…;

estuvo a punto de morir ahogada she almost drowned;

llegar a punto (para hacer algo) to arrive just in time (to do sth)

alcanzar el punto crítico [reactor] to go critical

7. [estado, fase] state, condition;

estando las cosas en este punto things being as they are;

llegar a un punto en que… to reach the stage where…;

estar en su punto to be just right;

¿cómo quiere el filete? – a punto o [m5] al punto how would you like your steak? – medium, please;

poner a punto [motor] to tune;

punto culminante high point;

punto de ebullición boiling point;

punto de fusión melting point;

punto muerto [en automóviles] neutral;

estar en un punto muerto [negociaciones] to be deadlocked;

ir en punto muerto [automóvil] to freewheel;

punto de nieve: [m5] batir a punto de nieve to beat until stiff

8. [grado] degree;

de todo punto [completamente] absolutely;

hasta cierto punto to some extent, up to a point;

el ruido era infernal, hasta el punto de no oír nada o [m5] de que no se oía nada the noise was so bad that you couldn't hear a thing;

hasta tal punto que to such an extent that

9. [cláusula] clause

10. [puntada] [en costura, en cirugía] stitch;

tienes o [m5] se te ha escapado un punto en el jersey you've pulled a stitch out of your jumper, you've got a loose stitch on your jumper;

le dieron diez puntos en la frente he had to have ten stitches to his forehead;

coger puntos to pick up stitches

punto de cadeneta chain stitch;

punto de cruz cross-stitch;

punto del revés purl;

11. [estilo de tejer] knitting;

un jersey de punto a knitted sweater;

prendas de punto knitwear;

hacer punto to knit

12. [pizca, toque] touch;

son comentarios un punto racistas they are somewhat racist remarks

13. Arquit

14. Esp Fam [borrachera ligera]

15. Esp Fam [reacción, estado de ánimo]

le dio el punto generoso he had a fit of generosity

16. Esp Fam [cosa estupenda]

17. Comp

agarrar a alguien de punto to tease sb, Br to take the mickey out of sb

♦ punto com nf

* * *

1 point;

punto por punto point by point;

ganar por puntos win on points

2 señal dot;

en punto on the dot;

a las tres en punto at three sharp, at three on the dot

3 signo de punctuación period, Br

full stop;

dos puntos colon;

punto y coma semicolon;

con puntos y comas fig in full detail;

poner punto final a algo fig end sth, put an end to sth;

y punto period;

poner los puntos sobre las íes fam make things crystal clear;

empresa punto.com dot.com (company)

4 en costura, sutura stitch;

hacer punto knit;

de punto knitted

a punto ( listo) ready; (a tiempo) in time llegar a punto para … arrive just in time to …;

estar a punto be ready;

estar a punto de be about to;

el arroz está en su punto the rice is ready;

poner a punto TÉC tune;

puesta a punto tune-up

6 alcance

hasta cierto punto up to a point;

hasta qué punto to what extent;

me pregunto hasta qué punto lo que dice es verdad o una exageración I wonder how much of what he says is true and how much is exaggeration;

hasta tal punto que to such an extent that

batir las claras a punto de nieve beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks

* * *

punto nm

1) : dot, point

2) : period (in punctuation)

3) : item, question

4) : spot, place

5) : moment, stage, degree

6) : point (in a score)

7) : stitch

en punto : on the dot, sharp

a las dos en punto: at two o'clock sharp

al punto : at once

a punto fijo : exactly, certainly

dos puntos : colon

hasta cierto punto : up to a point

punto decimal : decimal point

punto de vista : point of view

punto y coma : semicolon

y punto : period

es el mejor que hay y punto: it's the best there is, period

puntos cardinales : points of the compass

* * *

punto n

1. (en general) point

2. (señal) dot

3. (lugar) spot / place

4. (puntada) stitch

5. (signo ortográfico) full stop

m; -(e)s, -e

1. (Fleck) dot, spot (auch am Kleid); der Grüne Punkt ÖKO. ‚the Green Spot’, a sign showing that the packaging so marked is recyclable

2. LING. full stop, Am. period; einen Punkt machen oder setzen put a full stop (Am. period); einen Punkt hinter etw. setzen fig. bring s.th. to an end, settle s.th. (once and for all); ohne Punkt und Komma reden talk nineteen to the dozen; nun mach mal einen Punkt! umg. give it a break

3. in E-Mail-Adressen: dot

4. (Tüpfelchen) dot; MATH. point; Punkte und Striche dots and dashes; ein kleiner Punkt am Horizont a tiny dot ( oder a speck) on the horizon

5. (Stelle) point, place, spot

6. (Einzelheit) item, point; (Gesprächsthema) point, subject, topic; in vielen Punkten in many respects; in diesem Punkt sind wir uns einig we agree on that point; dunkler Punkt fig. dark chapter, skeleton in the cupboard (Am. closet); der springende Punkt the point; wunder Punkt sore point; einen schwachen Punkt treffen find a weak spot; Punkt für Punkt point by point

7. (Position) point, position; bis zu einem gewissen Punkt up to a point

8. SPORT etc. point; nach Punkten siegen / verlieren SPORT win / lose on points; Sieger nach Punkten beim Boxen: winner on points, points winner

9. mit Zeitangabe: on the dot of, at the stroke of; Punkt zehn Uhr on the dot of ( oder at the stroke of) ten o’clock, at ten o’clock on the dot; bei Terminangabe: ten o’clock sharp; neuralgisch, strittig, tot

* * *

(Uhrzeit) sharp;

(Aufzählung) point; item;

(Satzzeichen) full stop; period;

(Stelle) point; spot; place;

(Tupfen) spot; dot

* * *

m -(e)s, -e

1) (= Tupfen) spot, dot

2) (= Satzzeichen) full stop (Brit), period (esp US); (TYP) point; (auf dem i, MUS = Auslassungszeichen, von Punktlinie, COMPUT, E-MAIL-ADRESSE) dot

3) (=Stelle, Zeitpunkt AUCH MATH) point

4) (= Bewertungseinheit) point, mark; (bei Prüfung) mark; (bei Verkehrsvergehen) point

5) (bei Diskussion, von Vertrag etc) point

* * *

1) (a small, round mark: She marked the paper with a dot.) dot

2) (a written or printed point (.) marking the end of a sentence; a period.) full stop

3) (a separate object, article etc, especially one of a number named in a list: He ticked the items as he read through the list.) item

4) (a small round dot or mark (.): a decimal point; five point three six (= 5.36); In punctuation, a point is another name for a full stop.) point

5) (an exact place or spot: When we reached this point of the journey we stopped to rest.) point

6) (an exact moment: Her husband walked in at that point.) point

7) (a place on a scale especially of temperature: the boiling-point of water.) point

8) (a mark in scoring a competition, game, test etc: He has won by five points to two.) point

9) (a particular matter for consideration or action: The first point we must decide is, where to meet; That's a good point; You've missed the point; That's the whole point; We're wandering away from the point.) point

10) (in punctuation, a full stop: Put a stop at the end of the sentence.) stop

* * *

1. (Satzzeichen) full stop BRIT, period AM

einen \Punkt setzen to put a full stop

2. (auf dem i, j) dot

du hast den \Punkt auf dem i vergessen you forgot to dot the i

der Satz endet mit drei \Punkten the sentence ends with a row of dots [or with suspension points

3. (kreisrunder Fleck) spot, dot

ein Stoff mit grünen \Punkten a fabric with green spots

ein Hemd mit blauen \Punkten a blue, spotted shirt

braune \Punkte in den Augen brown flecks in one's eyes

von hier oben sehen die Menschen aus wie winzige \Punkte from up here the people look like tiny dots

4. (Stelle) spot; (genauer) point

zwischen den \Punkten A und B between [the] points A and B

ein Fernglas auf einen \Punkt richten to train a telescope on a point

ein dunkler \Punkt [in jds Vergangenheit] (fig) a dark chapter [in sb's past]

etw auf den \Punkt genau wissen to know sth quite precisely

bis zu einem gewissen \Punkt up to a certain point

ein schwacher/wunder \Punkt (fig) a weak/sore point

der tote \Punkt (fig) the low[est] point [or ebb]; (bei Verhandlungen) deadlock, impasse

nachmittags um drei habe ich meinen toten \Punkt I'm at my lowest ebb at three in the afternoon

die Unterhaltung hatte einen toten \Punkt erreicht the conversation had come to a dead stop

die Verhandlungen waren an einem toten \Punkt angelangt the talks had reached deadlock [or an impasse

5. (Abschnitt, Gegenstand, Thema) point; (auf der Tagesordnung) item

kommen wir nun zu \Punkt zwei der Tagesordnung let's look at point two of the agenda

er wurde in allen \Punkten der Anklage freigesprochen he was quilted on all counts

sich dat in allen \Punkten einig sein to agree on all points

etw in allen \Punkten widerlegen to refute sth in every respect

in einem bestimmten \Punkt/in bestimmten \Punkten on a certain point/on certain points

in diesem \Punkt on this point

etw auf den \Punkt bringen to put sth in a nutshell, to get to the heart of sth

auf den \Punkt kommen to get to the point

ein strittiger \Punkt a disputed [or moot] point, an area of dispute

\Punkt für \Punkt point by point

etw \Punkt für \Punkt widerlegen to disprove sth point by point

6. (Zeitpunkt) point

\Punkt acht [Uhr] at eight o'clock on the dot, on the stroke of eight

ich habe einem \Punkt erreicht [o ich bin an einem Punkt], wo es nicht mehr schlimmer werden kann I have reached the stage [or point] where it can't get any worse

jetzt ist der \Punkt gekommen, wo ich... the moment [or time] has now arrived when I...

auf den \Punkt genau kommen to be punctual [or somewhere on the dot

7. (Bewertungseinheit) point; (bei Prüfung a.) mark

einen \Punkt bekommen/verlieren to score/lose a point

nach \Punkten führen/siegen to lead/win on points

\Punkte sammeln [bei jdm] (a. fig) to score points [with sb]

8. kein pl (Maßeinheiten für Schriftarten) point

... \Punkte pro Inch INFORM... dots per inch, dpi

9. MUS dot

10. MATH point

▶ einen \Punkt hinter eine Angelegenheit setzen to make an end to a matter

▶ der \Punkt auf dem i the final touch

▶ ohne \Punkt und Komma reden to rattle on and on, to talk nineteen to the dozen BRIT fam, to rabbit on BRIT fam

▶ nun mach aber mal einen \Punkt! (fam) come off it! fam

▶ der springende \Punkt the crucial point

das ist nicht der springende \Punkt that's not the point

* * *

1) (Tupfen) dot; (größer) spot

2) (Satzzeichen) full stop; period

3) (I-Punkt) dot

4) (Stelle) point

5) (Gegenstand, Thema, Abschnitt) point; (einer Tagesordnung) item; point

6) (BewertungsPunkt) point; (bei einer Prüfung) mark

7) (Musik) dot

8) (Math.) point

9) (ZeitPunkt) point

* * *

Punkt m; -(e)s, -e

1. (Fleck) dot, spot (auch am Kleid);

der Grüne Punkt ÖKOL ‘the Green Spot’, a sign showing that the packaging so marked is recyclable

2. LING full stop, US period;

einen Punkt machen oder

setzen put a full stop (US period);

einen Punkt hinter etwas setzen fig bring sth to an end, settle sth (once and for all);

ohne Punkt und Komma reden talk nineteen to the dozen;

nun mach mal einen Punkt! umg give it a break

3. in E-Mail-Adressen, auf Bildschirmen: dot;

Punkte pro Zoll dots per inch

4. (Tüpfelchen) dot; MATH point;

Punkte und Striche dots and dashes;

ein kleiner Punkt am Horizont a tiny dot ( oder a speck) on the horizon

5. (Stelle) point, place, spot

6. (Einzelheit) item, point; (Gesprächsthema) point, subject, topic;

in vielen Punkten in many respects;

in diesem Punkt sind wir uns einig we agree on that point;

dunkler Punkt fig dark chapter, skeleton in the cupboard (US closet);

der springende Punkt the point;

wunder Punkt sore point;

einen schwachen Punkt treffen find a weak spot;

Punkt für Punkt point by point

7. (Position) point, position;

bis zu einem gewissen Punkt up to a point

8. SPORT etc point;

nach Punkten siegen/verlieren SPORT win/lose on points;

Sieger nach Punkten beim Boxen: winner on points, points winner

9. mit Zeitangabe: on the dot of, at the stroke of;

Punkt zehn Uhr on the dot of ( oder at the stroke of) ten o’clock, at ten o’clock on the dot; bei Terminangabe: ten o’clock sharp; → neuralgisch, strittig, tot

* * *

1) (Tupfen) dot; (größer) spot

2) (Satzzeichen) full stop; period

3) (I-Punkt) dot

4) (Stelle) point

5) (Gegenstand, Thema, Abschnitt) point; (einer Tagesordnung) item; point

6) (BewertungsPunkt) point; (bei einer Prüfung) mark

7) (Musik) dot

8) (Math.) point

9) (ZeitPunkt) point

* * *

decimal point n. -e (Satzzeichen) m.

full stop (UK)

period (US)

dot (.) n.

item n.

point n.

punctilio n.

spot n.

   Before Romans described western Iberia or Hispania as "Lusitania," ancient Iberians inhabited the land. Phoenician and Greek trading settlements grew up in the Tagus estuary area and nearby coasts. Beginning around 202 BCE, Romans invaded what is today southern Portugal. With Rome's defeat of Carthage, Romans proceeded to conquer and rule the western region north of the Tagus, which they named Roman "Lusitania." In the fourth century CE, as Rome's rule weakened, the area experienced yet another invasion—Germanic tribes, principally the Suevi, who eventually were Christianized. During the sixth century CE, the Suevi kingdom was superseded by yet another Germanic tribe—the Christian Visigoths.

   A major turning point in Portugal's history came in 711, as Muslim armies from North Africa, consisting of both Arab and Berber elements, invaded the Iberian Peninsula from across the Straits of Gibraltar. They entered what is now Portugal in 714, and proceeded to conquer most of the country except for the far north. For the next half a millennium, Islam and Muslim presence in Portugal left a significant mark upon the politics, government, language, and culture of the country.

   Islam, Reconquest, and Portugal Created, 714-1140

   The long frontier struggle between Muslim invaders and Christian communities in the north of the Iberian peninsula was called the Reconquista (Reconquest). It was during this struggle that the first dynasty of Portuguese kings (Burgundian) emerged and the independent monarchy of Portugal was established. Christian forces moved south from what is now the extreme north of Portugal and gradually defeated Muslim forces, besieging and capturing towns under Muslim sway. In the ninth century, as Christian forces slowly made their way southward, Christian elements were dominant only in the area between Minho province and the Douro River; this region became known as "territorium Portu-calense."

   In the 11th century, the advance of the Reconquest quickened as local Christian armies were reinforced by crusading knights from what is now France and England. Christian forces took Montemor (1034), at the Mondego River; Lamego (1058); Viseu (1058); and Coimbra (1064). In 1095, the king of Castile and Léon granted the country of "Portu-cale," what became northern Portugal, to a Burgundian count who had emigrated from France. This was the foundation of Portugal. In 1139, a descendant of this count, Afonso Henriques, proclaimed himself "King of Portugal." He was Portugal's first monarch, the "Founder," and the first of the Burgundian dynasty, which ruled until 1385.

   The emergence of Portugal in the 12th century as a separate monarchy in Iberia occurred before the Christian Reconquest of the peninsula. In the 1140s, the pope in Rome recognized Afonso Henriques as king of Portugal. In 1147, after a long, bloody siege, Muslim-occupied Lisbon fell to Afonso Henriques's army. Lisbon was the greatest prize of the 500-year war. Assisting this effort were English crusaders on their way to the Holy Land; the first bishop of Lisbon was an Englishman. When the Portuguese captured Faro and Silves in the Algarve province in 1248-50, the Reconquest of the extreme western portion of the Iberian peninsula was complete—significantly, more than two centuries before the Spanish crown completed the Reconquest of the eastern portion by capturing Granada in 1492.

   Consolidation and Independence of Burgundian Portugal, 1140-1385

   Two main themes of Portugal's early existence as a monarchy are the consolidation of control over the realm and the defeat of a Castil-ian threat from the east to its independence. At the end of this period came the birth of a new royal dynasty (Aviz), which prepared to carry the Christian Reconquest beyond continental Portugal across the straits of Gibraltar to North Africa. There was a variety of motives behind these developments. Portugal's independent existence was imperiled by threats from neighboring Iberian kingdoms to the north and east. Politics were dominated not only by efforts against the Muslims in

   Portugal (until 1250) and in nearby southern Spain (until 1492), but also by internecine warfare among the kingdoms of Castile, Léon, Aragon, and Portugal. A final comeback of Muslim forces was defeated at the battle of Salado (1340) by allied Castilian and Portuguese forces. In the emerging Kingdom of Portugal, the monarch gradually gained power over and neutralized the nobility and the Church.

   The historic and commonplace Portuguese saying "From Spain, neither a good wind nor a good marriage" was literally played out in diplomacy and war in the late 14th-century struggles for mastery in the peninsula. Larger, more populous Castile was pitted against smaller Portugal. Castile's Juan I intended to force a union between Castile and Portugal during this era of confusion and conflict. In late 1383, Portugal's King Fernando, the last king of the Burgundian dynasty, suddenly died prematurely at age 38, and the Master of Aviz, Portugal's most powerful nobleman, took up the cause of independence and resistance against Castile's invasion. The Master of Aviz, who became King João I of Portugal, was able to obtain foreign assistance. With the aid of English archers, Joao's armies defeated the Castilians in the crucial battle of Aljubarrota, on 14 August 1385, a victory that assured the independence of the Portuguese monarchy from its Castilian nemesis for several centuries.

   Aviz Dynasty and Portugal's First Overseas Empire, 1385-1580

   The results of the victory at Aljubarrota, much celebrated in Portugal's art and monuments, and the rise of the Aviz dynasty also helped to establish a new merchant class in Lisbon and Oporto, Portugal's second city. This group supported King João I's program of carrying the Reconquest to North Africa, since it was interested in expanding Portugal's foreign commerce and tapping into Muslim trade routes and resources in Africa. With the Reconquest against the Muslims completed in Portugal and the threat from Castile thwarted for the moment, the Aviz dynasty launched an era of overseas conquest, exploration, and trade. These efforts dominated Portugal's 15th and 16th centuries.

   The overseas empire and age of Discoveries began with Portugal's bold conquest in 1415 of the Moroccan city of Ceuta. One royal member of the 1415 expedition was young, 21-year-old Prince Henry, later known in history as "Prince Henry the Navigator." His part in the capture of Ceuta won Henry his knighthood and began Portugal's "Marvelous Century," during which the small kingdom was counted as a European and world power of consequence. Henry was the son of King João I and his English queen, Philippa of Lancaster, but he did not inherit the throne. Instead, he spent most of his life and his fortune, and that of the wealthy military Order of Christ, on various imperial ventures and on voyages of exploration down the African coast and into the Atlantic. While mythology has surrounded Henry's controversial role in the Discoveries, and this role has been exaggerated, there is no doubt that he played a vital part in the initiation of Portugal's first overseas empire and in encouraging exploration. He was naturally curious, had a sense of mission for Portugal, and was a strong leader. He also had wealth to expend; at least a third of the African voyages of the time were under his sponsorship. If Prince Henry himself knew little science, significant scientific advances in navigation were made in his day.

   What were Portugal's motives for this new imperial effort? The well-worn historical cliche of "God, Glory, and Gold" can only partly explain the motivation of a small kingdom with few natural resources and barely 1 million people, which was greatly outnumbered by the other powers it confronted. Among Portuguese objectives were the desire to exploit known North African trade routes and resources (gold, wheat, leather, weaponry, and other goods that were scarce in Iberia); the need to outflank the Muslim world in the Mediterranean by sailing around Africa, attacking Muslims en route; and the wish to ally with Christian kingdoms beyond Africa. This enterprise also involved a strategy of breaking the Venetian spice monopoly by trading directly with the East by means of discovering and exploiting a sea route around Africa to Asia. Besides the commercial motives, Portugal nurtured a strong crusading sense of Christian mission, and various classes in the kingdom saw an opportunity for fame and gain.

   By the time of Prince Henry's death in 1460, Portugal had gained control of the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeiras, begun to colonize the Cape Verde Islands, failed to conquer the Canary Islands from Castile, captured various cities on Morocco's coast, and explored as far as Senegal, West Africa, down the African coast. By 1488, Bar-tolomeu Dias had rounded the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and thereby discovered the way to the Indian Ocean.

   Portugal's largely coastal African empire and later its fragile Asian empire brought unexpected wealth but were purchased at a high price. Costs included wars of conquest and defense against rival powers, manning the far-flung navel and trade fleets and scattered castle-fortresses, and staffing its small but fierce armies, all of which entailed a loss of skills and population to maintain a scattered empire. Always short of capital, the monarchy became indebted to bankers. There were many defeats beginning in the 16th century at the hands of the larger imperial European monarchies (Spain, France, England, and Holland) and many attacks on Portugal and its strung-out empire. Typically, there was also the conflict that arose when a tenuously held world empire that rarely if ever paid its way demanded finance and manpower Portugal itself lacked.

   The first 80 years of the glorious imperial era, the golden age of Portugal's imperial power and world influence, was an African phase. During 1415-88, Portuguese navigators and explorers in small ships, some of them caravelas (caravels), explored the treacherous, disease-ridden coasts of Africa from Morocco to South Africa beyond the Cape of Good Hope. By the 1470s, the Portuguese had reached the Gulf of Guinea and, in the early 1480s, what is now Angola. Bartolomeu Dias's extraordinary voyage of 1487-88 to South Africa's coast and the edge of the Indian Ocean convinced Portugal that the best route to Asia's spices and Christians lay south, around the tip of southern Africa. Between 1488 and 1495, there was a hiatus caused in part by domestic conflict in Portugal, discussion of resources available for further conquests beyond Africa in Asia, and serious questions as to Portugal's capacity to reach beyond Africa. In 1495, King Manuel and his council decided to strike for Asia, whatever the consequences. In 1497-99, Vasco da Gama, under royal orders, made the epic two-year voyage that discovered the sea route to western India (Asia), outflanked Islam and Venice, and began Portugal's Asian empire. Within 50 years, Portugal had discovered and begun the exploitation of its largest colony, Brazil, and set up forts and trading posts from the Middle East (Aden and Ormuz), India (Calicut, Goa, etc.), Malacca, and Indonesia to Macau in China.

   By the 1550s, parts of its largely coastal, maritime trading post empire from Morocco to the Moluccas were under siege from various hostile forces, including Muslims, Christians, and Hindi. Although Moroccan forces expelled the Portuguese from the major coastal cities by 1550, the rival European monarchies of Castile (Spain), England, France, and later Holland began to seize portions of her undermanned, outgunned maritime empire.

   In 1580, Phillip II of Spain, whose mother was a Portuguese princess and who had a strong claim to the Portuguese throne, invaded Portugal, claimed the throne, and assumed control over the realm and, by extension, its African, Asian, and American empires. Phillip II filled the power vacuum that appeared in Portugal following the loss of most of Portugal's army and its young, headstrong King Sebastião in a disastrous war in Morocco. Sebastiao's death in battle (1578) and the lack of a natural heir to succeed him, as well as the weak leadership of the cardinal who briefly assumed control in Lisbon, led to a crisis that Spain's strong monarch exploited. As a result, Portugal lost its independence to Spain for a period of 60 years.

   Portugal under Spanish Rule, 1580-1640

   Despite the disastrous nature of Portugal's experience under Spanish rule, "The Babylonian Captivity" gave birth to modern Portuguese nationalism, its second overseas empire, and its modern alliance system with England. Although Spain allowed Portugal's weakened empire some autonomy, Spanish rule in Portugal became increasingly burdensome and unacceptable. Spain's ambitious imperial efforts in Europe and overseas had an impact on the Portuguese as Spain made greater and greater demands on its smaller neighbor for manpower and money. Portugal's culture underwent a controversial Castilianization, while its empire became hostage to Spain's fortunes. New rival powers England, France, and Holland attacked and took parts of Spain's empire and at the same time attacked Portugal's empire, as well as the mother country.

   Portugal's empire bore the consequences of being attacked by Spain's bitter enemies in what was a form of world war. Portuguese losses were heavy. By 1640, Portugal had lost most of its Moroccan cities as well as Ceylon, the Moluccas, and sections of India. With this, Portugal's Asian empire was gravely weakened. Only Goa, Damão, Diu, Bombay, Timor, and Macau remained and, in Brazil, Dutch forces occupied the northeast.

   On 1 December 1640, long commemorated as a national holiday, Portuguese rebels led by the duke of Braganza overthrew Spanish domination and took advantage of Spanish weakness following a more serious rebellion in Catalonia. Portugal regained independence from Spain, but at a price: dependence on foreign assistance to maintain its independence in the form of the renewal of the alliance with England.

   Restoration and Second Empire, 1640-1822

   Foreign affairs and empire dominated the restoration era and aftermath, and Portugal again briefly enjoyed greater European power and prestige. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance was renewed and strengthened in treaties of 1642, 1654, and 1661, and Portugal's independence from Spain was underwritten by English pledges and armed assistance. In a Luso-Spanish treaty of 1668, Spain recognized Portugal's independence. Portugal's alliance with England was a marriage of convenience and necessity between two monarchies with important religious, cultural, and social differences. In return for legal, diplomatic, and trade privileges, as well as the use during war and peace of Portugal's great Lisbon harbor and colonial ports for England's navy, England pledged to protect Portugal and its scattered empire from any attack. The previously cited 17th-century alliance treaties were renewed later in the Treaty of Windsor, signed in London in 1899. On at least 10 different occasions after 1640, and during the next two centuries, England was central in helping prevent or repel foreign invasions of its ally, Portugal.

   Portugal's second empire (1640-1822) was largely Brazil-oriented. Portuguese colonization, exploitation of wealth, and emigration focused on Portuguese America, and imperial revenues came chiefly from Brazil. Between 1670 and 1740, Portugal's royalty and nobility grew wealthier on funds derived from Brazilian gold, diamonds, sugar, tobacco, and other crops, an enterprise supported by the Atlantic slave trade and the supply of African slave labor from West Africa and Angola. Visitors today can see where much of that wealth was invested: Portugal's rich legacy of monumental architecture. Meanwhile, the African slave trade took a toll in Angola and West Africa.

   In continental Portugal, absolutist monarchy dominated politics and government, and there was a struggle for position and power between the monarchy and other institutions, such as the Church and nobility. King José I's chief minister, usually known in history as the marquis of Pombal (ruled 1750-77), sharply suppressed the nobility and the

   Church (including the Inquisition, now a weak institution) and expelled the Jesuits. Pombal also made an effort to reduce economic dependence on England, Portugal's oldest ally. But his successes did not last much beyond his disputed time in office.

   Beginning in the late 18th century, the European-wide impact of the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon placed Portugal in a vulnerable position. With the monarchy ineffectively led by an insane queen (Maria I) and her indecisive regent son (João VI), Portugal again became the focus of foreign ambition and aggression. With England unable to provide decisive assistance in time, France—with Spain's consent—invaded Portugal in 1807. As Napoleon's army under General Junot entered Lisbon meeting no resistance, Portugal's royal family fled on a British fleet to Brazil, where it remained in exile until 1821. In the meantime, Portugal's overseas empire was again under threat. There was a power vacuum as the monarch was absent, foreign armies were present, and new political notions of liberalism and constitutional monarchy were exciting various groups of citizens.

   Again England came to the rescue, this time in the form of the armies of the duke of Wellington. Three successive French invasions of Portugal were defeated and expelled, and Wellington succeeded in carrying the war against Napoleon across the Portuguese frontier into Spain. The presence of the English army, the new French-born liberal ideas, and the political vacuum combined to create revolutionary conditions. The French invasions and the peninsular wars, where Portuguese armed forces played a key role, marked the beginning of a new era in politics.

   Liberalism and Constitutional Monarchy, 1822-1910

   During 1807-22, foreign invasions, war, and civil strife over conflicting political ideas gravely damaged Portugal's commerce, economy, and novice industry. The next terrible blow was the loss of Brazil in 1822, the jewel in the imperial crown. Portugal's very independence seemed to be at risk. In vain, Portugal sought to resist Brazilian independence by force, but in 1825 it formally acknowledged Brazilian independence by treaty.

   Portugal's slow recovery from the destructive French invasions and the "war of independence" was complicated by civil strife over the form of constitutional monarchy that best suited Portugal. After struggles over these issues between 1820 and 1834, Portugal settled somewhat uncertainly into a moderate constitutional monarchy whose constitution (Charter of 1826) lent it strong political powers to exert a moderating influence between the executive and legislative branches of the government. It also featured a new upper middle class based on land ownership and commerce; a Catholic Church that, although still important, lived with reduced privileges and property; a largely African (third) empire to which Lisbon and Oporto devoted increasing spiritual and material resources, starting with the liberal imperial plans of 1836 and 1851, and continuing with the work of institutions like the Lisbon Society of Geography (established 1875); and a mass of rural peasants whose bonds to the land weakened after 1850 and who began to immigrate in increasing numbers to Brazil and North America.

   Chronic military intervention in national politics began in 19th-century Portugal. Such intervention, usually commencing with coups or pronunciamentos (military revolts), was a shortcut to the spoils of political office and could reflect popular discontent as well as the power of personalities. An early example of this was the 1817 golpe (coup) attempt of General Gomes Freire against British military rule in Portugal before the return of King João VI from Brazil. Except for a more stable period from 1851 to 1880, military intervention in politics, or the threat thereof, became a feature of the constitutional monarchy's political life, and it continued into the First Republic and the subsequent Estado Novo.

   Beginning with the Regeneration period (1851-80), Portugal experienced greater political stability and economic progress. Military intervention in politics virtually ceased; industrialization and construction of railroads, roads, and bridges proceeded; two political parties (Regenerators and Historicals) worked out a system of rotation in power; and leading intellectuals sparked a cultural revival in several fields. In 19th-century literature, there was a new golden age led by such figures as Alexandre Herculano (historian), Eça de Queirós (novelist), Almeida Garrett (playwright and essayist), Antero de Quental (poet), and Joaquim Oliveira Martins (historian and social scientist). In its third overseas empire, Portugal attempted to replace the slave trade and slavery with legitimate economic activities; to reform the administration; and to expand Portuguese holdings beyond coastal footholds deep into the African hinterlands in West, West Central, and East Africa. After 1841, to some extent, and especially after 1870, colonial affairs, combined with intense nationalism, pressures for economic profit in Africa, sentiment for national revival, and the drift of European affairs would make or break Lisbon governments.

   Beginning with the political crisis that arose out of the "English Ultimatum" affair of January 1890, the monarchy became discredtted and identified with the poorly functioning government, political parties splintered, and republicanism found more supporters. Portugal participated in the "Scramble for Africa," expanding its African holdings, but failed to annex territory connecting Angola and Mozambique. A growing foreign debt and state bankruptcy as of the early 1890s damaged the constitutional monarchy's reputation, despite the efforts of King Carlos in diplomacy, the renewal of the alliance in the Windsor Treaty of 1899, and the successful if bloody colonial wars in the empire (1880-97). Republicanism proclaimed that Portugal's weak economy and poor society were due to two historic institutions: the monarchy and the Catholic Church. A republic, its stalwarts claimed, would bring greater individual liberty; efficient, if more decentralized government; and a stronger colonial program while stripping the Church of its role in both society and education.

   As the monarchy lost support and republicans became more aggressive, violence increased in politics. King Carlos I and his heir Luís were murdered in Lisbon by anarchist-republicans on 1 February 1908. Following a military and civil insurrection and fighting between monarchist and republican forces, on 5 October 1910, King Manuel II fled Portugal and a republic was proclaimed.

   First Parliamentary Republic, 1910-26

   Portugal's first attempt at republican government was the most unstable, turbulent parliamentary republic in the history of 20th-century Western Europe. During a little under 16 years of the republic, there were 45 governments, a number of legislatures that did not complete normal terms, military coups, and only one president who completed his four-year term in office. Portuguese society was poorly prepared for this political experiment. Among the deadly legacies of the monarchy were a huge public debt; a largely rural, apolitical, and illiterate peasant population; conflict over the causes of the country's misfortunes; and lack of experience with a pluralist, democratic system.

   The republic had some talented leadership but lacked popular, institutional, and economic support. The 1911 republican constitution established only a limited democracy, as only a small portion of the adult male citizenry was eligible to vote. In a country where the majority was Catholic, the republic passed harshly anticlerical laws, and its institutions and supporters persecuted both the Church and its adherents. During its brief disjointed life, the First Republic drafted important reform plans in economic, social, and educational affairs; actively promoted development in the empire; and pursued a liberal, generous foreign policy. Following British requests for Portugal's assistance in World War I, Portugal entered the war on the Allied side in March 1916 and sent armies to Flanders and Portuguese Africa. Portugal's intervention in that conflict, however, was too costly in many respects, and the ultimate failure of the republic in part may be ascribed to Portugal's World War I activities.

   Unfortunately for the republic, its time coincided with new threats to Portugal's African possessions: World War I, social and political demands from various classes that could not be reconciled, excessive military intervention in politics, and, in particular, the worst economic and financial crisis Portugal had experienced since the 16th and 17th centuries. After the original Portuguese Republican Party (PRP, also known as the "Democrats") splintered into three warring groups in 1912, no true multiparty system emerged. The Democrats, except for only one or two elections, held an iron monopoly of electoral power, and political corruption became a major issue. As extreme right-wing dictatorships elsewhere in Europe began to take power in Italy (1922), neighboring Spain (1923), and Greece (1925), what scant popular support remained for the republic collapsed. Backed by a right-wing coalition of landowners from Alentejo, clergy, Coimbra University faculty and students, Catholic organizations, and big business, career military officers led by General Gomes da Costa executed a coup on 28 May 1926, turned out the last republican government, and established a military government.

   The Estado Novo (New State), 1926-74

   During the military phase (1926-32) of the Estado Novo, professional military officers, largely from the army, governed and administered Portugal and held key cabinet posts, but soon discovered that the military possessed no magic formula that could readily solve the problems inherited from the First Republic. Especially during the years 1926-31, the military dictatorship, even with its political repression of republican activities and institutions (military censorship of the press, political police action, and closure of the republic's rowdy parliament), was characterized by similar weaknesses: personalism and factionalism; military coups and political instability, including civil strife and loss of life; state debt and bankruptcy; and a weak economy. "Barracks parliamentarism" was not an acceptable alternative even to the "Nightmare Republic."

   Led by General Óscar Carmona, who had replaced and sent into exile General Gomes da Costa, the military dictatorship turned to a civilian expert in finance and economics to break the budget impasse and bring coherence to the disorganized system. Appointed minister of finance on 27 April 1928, the Coimbra University Law School professor of economics Antônio de Oliveira Salazar (1889-1970) first reformed finance, helped balance the budget, and then turned to other concerns as he garnered extraordinary governing powers. In 1930, he was appointed interim head of another key ministry (Colonies) and within a few years had become, in effect, a civilian dictator who, with the military hierarchy's support, provided the government with coherence, a program, and a set of policies.

   For nearly 40 years after he was appointed the first civilian prime minister in 1932, Salazar's personality dominated the government. Unlike extreme right-wing dictators elsewhere in Europe, Salazar was directly appointed by the army but was never endorsed by a popular political party, street militia, or voter base. The scholarly, reclusive former Coimbra University professor built up what became known after 1932 as the Estado Novo ("New State"), which at the time of its overthrow by another military coup in 1974, was the longest surviving authoritarian regime in Western Europe. The system of Salazar and the largely academic and technocratic ruling group he gathered in his cabinets was based on the central bureaucracy of the state, which was supported by the president of the republic—always a senior career military officer, General Óscar Carmona (1928-51), General Craveiro Lopes (1951-58), and Admiral Américo Tómaz (1958-74)—and the complicity of various institutions. These included a rubber-stamp legislature called the National Assembly (1935-74) and a political police known under various names: PVDE (1932-45), PIDE (1945-69),

   and DGS (1969-74). Other defenders of the Estado Novo security were paramilitary organizations such as the National Republican Guard (GNR); the Portuguese Legion (PL); and the Portuguese Youth [Movement]. In addition to censorship of the media, theater, and books, there was political repression and a deliberate policy of depoliticization. All political parties except for the approved movement of regime loyalists, the União Nacional or (National Union), were banned.

   The most vigorous and more popular period of the New State was 1932-44, when the basic structures were established. Never monolithic or entirely the work of one person (Salazar), the New State was constructed with the assistance of several dozen top associates who were mainly academics from law schools, some technocrats with specialized skills, and a handful of trusted career military officers. The 1933 Constitution declared Portugal to be a "unitary, corporative Republic," and pressures to restore the monarchy were resisted. Although some of the regime's followers were fascists and pseudofascists, many more were conservative Catholics, integralists, nationalists, and monarchists of different varieties, and even some reactionary republicans. If the New State was authoritarian, it was not totalitarian and, unlike fascism in Benito Mussolini's Italy or Adolf Hitler's Germany, it usually employed the minimum of violence necessary to defeat what remained a largely fractious, incoherent opposition.

   With the tumultuous Second Republic and the subsequent civil war in nearby Spain, the regime felt threatened and reinforced its defenses. During what Salazar rightly perceived as a time of foreign policy crisis for Portugal (1936-45), he assumed control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From there, he pursued four basic foreign policy objectives: supporting the Nationalist rebels of General Francisco Franco in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and concluding defense treaties with a triumphant Franco; ensuring that General Franco in an exhausted Spain did not enter World War II on the Axis side; maintaining Portuguese neutrality in World War II with a post-1942 tilt toward the Allies, including granting Britain and the United States use of bases in the Azores Islands; and preserving and protecting Portugal's Atlantic Islands and its extensive, if poor, overseas empire in Africa and Asia.

   During the middle years of the New State (1944-58), many key Salazar associates in government either died or resigned, and there was greater social unrest in the form of unprecedented strikes and clandestine Communist activities, intensified opposition, and new threatening international pressures on Portugal's overseas empire. During the earlier phase of the Cold War (1947-60), Portugal became a steadfast, if weak, member of the US-dominated North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance and, in 1955, with American support, Portugal joined the United Nations (UN). Colonial affairs remained a central concern of the regime. As of 1939, Portugal was the third largest colonial power in the world and possessed territories in tropical Africa (Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe Islands) and the remnants of its 16th-century empire in Asia (Goa, Damão, Diu, East Timor, and Macau). Beginning in the early 1950s, following the independence of India in 1947, Portugal resisted Indian pressures to decolonize Portuguese India and used police forces to discourage internal opposition in its Asian and African colonies.

   The later years of the New State (1958-68) witnessed the aging of the increasingly isolated but feared Salazar and new threats both at home and overseas. Although the regime easily overcame the brief oppositionist threat from rival presidential candidate General Humberto Delgado in the spring of 1958, new developments in the African and Asian empires imperiled the authoritarian system. In February 1961, oppositionists hijacked the Portuguese ocean liner Santa Maria and, in following weeks, African insurgents in northern Angola, although they failed to expel the Portuguese, gained worldwide media attention, discredited the New State, and began the 13-year colonial war. After thwarting a dissident military coup against his continued leadership, Salazar and his ruling group mobilized military repression in Angola and attempted to develop the African colonies at a faster pace in order to ensure Portuguese control. Meanwhile, the other European colonial powers (Britain, France, Belgium, and Spain) rapidly granted political independence to their African territories.

   At the time of Salazar's removal from power in September 1968, following a stroke, Portugal's efforts to maintain control over its colonies appeared to be successful. President Americo Tomás appointed Dr. Marcello Caetano as Salazar's successor as prime minister. While maintaining the New State's basic structures, and continuing the regime's essential colonial policy, Caetano attempted wider reforms in colonial administration and some devolution of power from Lisbon, as well as more freedom of expression in Lisbon. Still, a great deal of the budget was devoted to supporting the wars against the insurgencies in Africa. Meanwhile in Asia, Portuguese India had fallen when the Indian army invaded in December 1961. The loss of Goa was a psychological blow to the leadership of the New State, and of the Asian empire only East Timor and Macau remained.

   The Caetano years (1968-74) were but a hiatus between the waning Salazar era and a new regime. There was greater political freedom and rapid economic growth (5-6 percent annually to late 1973), but Caetano's government was unable to reform the old system thoroughly and refused to consider new methods either at home or in the empire. In the end, regime change came from junior officers of the professional military who organized the Armed Forces Movement (MFA) against the Caetano government. It was this group of several hundred officers, mainly in the army and navy, which engineered a largely bloodless coup in Lisbon on 25 April 1974. Their unexpected action brought down the 48-year-old New State and made possible the eventual establishment and consolidation of democratic governance in Portugal, as well as a reorientation of the country away from the Atlantic toward Europe.

   Revolution of Carnations, 1974-76

   Following successful military operations of the Armed Forces Movement against the Caetano government, Portugal experienced what became known as the "Revolution of Carnations." It so happened that during the rainy week of the military golpe, Lisbon flower shops were featuring carnations, and the revolutionaries and their supporters adopted the red carnation as the common symbol of the event, as well as of the new freedom from dictatorship. The MFA, whose leaders at first were mostly little-known majors and captains, proclaimed a three-fold program of change for the new Portugal: democracy; decolonization of the overseas empire, after ending the colonial wars; and developing a backward economy in the spirit of opportunity and equality. During the first 24 months after the coup, there was civil strife, some anarchy, and a power struggle. With the passing of the Estado Novo, public euphoria burst forth as the new provisional military government proclaimed the freedoms of speech, press, and assembly, and abolished censorship, the political police, the Portuguese Legion, Portuguese Youth, and other New State organizations, including the National Union. Scores of political parties were born and joined the senior political party, the Portuguese Community Party (PCP), and the Socialist Party (PS), founded shortly before the coup.

   Portugal's Revolution of Carnations went through several phases. There was an attempt to take control by radical leftists, including the PCP and its allies. This was thwarted by moderate officers in the army, as well as by the efforts of two political parties: the PS and the Social Democrats (PPD, later PSD). The first phase was from April to September 1974. Provisional president General Antonio Spínola, whose 1974 book Portugal and the Future had helped prepare public opinion for the coup, met irresistible leftist pressures. After Spinola's efforts to avoid rapid decolonization of the African empire failed, he resigned in September 1974. During the second phase, from September 1974 to March 1975, radical military officers gained control, but a coup attempt by General Spínola and his supporters in Lisbon in March 1975 failed and Spínola fled to Spain.

   In the third phase of the Revolution, March-November 1975, a strong leftist reaction followed. Farm workers occupied and "nationalized" 1.1 million hectares of farmland in the Alentejo province, and radical military officers in the provisional government ordered the nationalization of Portuguese banks (foreign banks were exempted), utilities, and major industries, or about 60 percent of the economic system. There were power struggles among various political parties — a total of 50 emerged—and in the streets there was civil strife among labor, military, and law enforcement groups. A constituent assembly, elected on 25 April 1975, in Portugal's first free elections since 1926, drafted a democratic constitution. The Council of the Revolution (CR), briefly a revolutionary military watchdog committee, was entrenched as part of the government under the constitution, until a later revision. During the chaotic year of 1975, about 30 persons were killed in political frays while unstable provisional governments came and went. On 25 November 1975, moderate military forces led by Colonel Ramalho Eanes, who later was twice elected president of the republic (1976 and 1981), defeated radical, leftist military groups' revolutionary conspiracies.

   In the meantime, Portugal's scattered overseas empire experienced a precipitous and unprepared decolonization. One by one, the former colonies were granted and accepted independence—Guinea-Bissau (September 1974), Cape Verde Islands (July 1975), and Mozambique (July 1975). Portugal offered to turn over Macau to the People's Republic of China, but the offer was refused then and later negotiations led to the establishment of a formal decolonization or hand-over date of 1999. But in two former colonies, the process of decolonization had tragic results.

   In Angola, decolonization negotiations were greatly complicated by the fact that there were three rival nationalist movements in a struggle for power. The January 1975 Alvor Agreement signed by Portugal and these three parties was not effectively implemented. A bloody civil war broke out in Angola in the spring of 1975 and, when Portuguese armed forces withdrew and declared that Angola was independent on 11 November 1975, the bloodshed only increased. Meanwhile, most of the white Portuguese settlers from Angola and Mozambique fled during the course of 1975. Together with African refugees, more than 600,000 of these retornados ("returned ones") went by ship and air to Portugal and thousands more to Namibia, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.

   The second major decolonization disaster was in Portugal's colony of East Timor in the Indonesian archipelago. Portugal's capacity to supervise and control a peaceful transition to independence in this isolated, neglected colony was limited by the strength of giant Indonesia, distance from Lisbon, and Portugal's revolutionary disorder and inability to defend Timor. In early December 1975, before Portugal granted formal independence and as one party, FRETILIN, unilaterally declared East Timor's independence, Indonesia's armed forces invaded, conquered, and annexed East Timor. Indonesian occupation encountered East Timorese resistance, and a heavy loss of life followed. The East Timor question remained a contentious international issue in the UN, as well as in Lisbon and Jakarta, for more than 20 years following Indonesia's invasion and annexation of the former colony of Portugal. Major changes occurred, beginning in 1998, after Indonesia underwent a political revolution and allowed a referendum in East Timor to decide that territory's political future in August 1999. Most East Timorese chose independence, but Indonesian forces resisted that verdict until

   UN intervention in September 1999. Following UN rule for several years, East Timor attained full independence on 20 May 2002.

   Consolidation of Democracy, 1976-2000

   After several free elections and record voter turnouts between 25 April 1975 and June 1976, civil war was averted and Portugal's second democratic republic began to stabilize. The MFA was dissolved, the military were returned to the barracks, and increasingly elected civilians took over the government of the country. The 1976 Constitution was revised several times beginning in 1982 and 1989, in order to reempha-size the principle of free enterprise in the economy while much of the large, nationalized sector was privatized. In June 1976, General Ram-alho Eanes was elected the first constitutional president of the republic (five-year term), and he appointed socialist leader Dr. Mário Soares as prime minister of the first constitutional government.

   From 1976 to 1985, Portugal's new system featured a weak economy and finances, labor unrest, and administrative and political instability. The difficult consolidation of democratic governance was eased in part by the strong currency and gold reserves inherited from the Estado Novo, but Lisbon seemed unable to cope with high unemployment, new debt, the complex impact of the refugees from Africa, world recession, and the agitation of political parties. Four major parties emerged from the maelstrom of 1974-75, except for the Communist Party, all newly founded. They were, from left to right, the Communists (PCP); the Socialists (PS), who managed to dominate governments and the legislature but not win a majority in the Assembly of the Republic; the Social Democrats (PSD); and the Christian Democrats (CDS). During this period, the annual growth rate was low (l-2 percent), and the nationalized sector of the economy stagnated.

   Enhanced economic growth, greater political stability, and more effective central government as of 1985, and especially 1987, were due to several developments. In 1977, Portugal applied for membership in the European Economic Community (EEC), now the European Union (EU) since 1993. In January 1986, with Spain, Portugal was granted membership, and economic and financial progress in the intervening years has been significantly influenced by the comparatively large investment, loans, technology, advice, and other assistance from the EEC. Low unemployment, high annual growth rates (5 percent), and moderate inflation have also been induced by the new political and administrative stability in Lisbon. Led by Prime Minister Cavaco Silva, an economist who was trained abroad, the PSD's strong organization, management, and electoral support since 1985 have assisted in encouraging economic recovery and development. In 1985, the PSD turned the PS out of office and won the general election, although they did not have an absolute majority of assembly seats. In 1986, Mário Soares was elected president of the republic, the first civilian to hold that office since the First Republic. In the elections of 1987 and 1991, however, the PSD was returned to power with clear majorities of over 50 percent of the vote.

   Although the PSD received 50.4 percent of the vote in the 1991 parliamentary elections and held a 42-seat majority in the Assembly of the Republic, the party began to lose public support following media revelations regarding corruption and complaints about Prime Minister Cavaco Silva's perceived arrogant leadership style. President Mário Soares voiced criticism of the PSD's seemingly untouchable majority and described a "tyranny of the majority." Economic growth slowed down. In the parliamentary elections of 1995 and the presidential election of 1996, the PSD's dominance ended for the time being. Prime Minister Antônio Guterres came to office when the PS won the October 1995 elections, and in the subsequent presidential contest, in January 1996, socialist Jorge Sampaio, the former mayor of Lisbon, was elected president of the republic, thus defeating Cavaco Silva's bid. Young and popular, Guterres moved the PS toward the center of the political spectrum. Under Guterres, the PS won the October 1999 parliamentary elections. The PS defeated the PSD but did not manage to win a clear, working majority of seats, and this made the PS dependent upon alliances with smaller parties, including the PCP.

   In the local elections in December 2001, the PSD's criticism of PS's heavy public spending allowed the PSD to take control of the key cities of Lisbon, Oporto, and Coimbra. Guterres resigned, and parliamentary elections were brought forward from 2004 to March 2002. The PSD won a narrow victory with 40 percent of the votes, and Jose Durão Barroso became prime minister. Having failed to win a majority of the seats in parliament forced the PSD to govern in coalition with the right-wing Popular Party (PP) led by Paulo Portas. Durão Barroso set about reducing government spending by cutting the budgets of local authorities, freezing civil service hiring, and reviving the economy by accelerating privatization of state-owned enterprises. These measures provoked a 24-hour strike by public-sector workers. Durão Barroso reacted with vows to press ahead with budget-cutting measures and imposed a wage freeze on all employees earning more than €1,000, which affected more than one-half of Portugal's work force.

   In June 2004, Durão Barroso was invited by Romano Prodi to succeed him as president of the European Commission. Durão Barroso accepted and resigned the prime ministership in July. Pedro Santana Lopes, the leader of the PSD, became prime minister. Already unpopular at the time of Durão Barroso's resignation, the PSD-led government became increasingly unpopular under Santana Lopes. A month-long delay in the start of the school year and confusion over his plan to cut taxes and raise public-sector salaries, eroded confidence even more. By November, Santana Lopes's government was so unpopular that President Jorge Sampaio was obliged to dissolve parliament and hold new elections, two years ahead of schedule.

   Parliamentary elections were held on 20 February 2005. The PS, which had promised the electorate disciplined and transparent governance, educational reform, the alleviation of poverty, and a boost in employment, won 45 percent of the vote and the majority of the seats in parliament. The leader of the PS, José Sôcrates became prime minister on 12 March 2005. In the regularly scheduled presidential elections held on 6 January 2006, the former leader of the PSD and prime minister, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, won a narrow victory and became president on 9 March 2006. With a mass protest, public teachers' strike, and street demonstrations in March 2008, Portugal's media, educational, and social systems experienced more severe pressures. With the spreading global recession beginning in September 2008, Portugal's economic and financial systems became more troubled.

    Contemporary Portugal

   Owing to its geographic location on the southwestern most edge of continental Europe, Portugal has been historically in but not of Europe. Almost from the beginning of its existence in the 12th century as an independent monarchy, Portugal turned its back on Europe and oriented itself toward the Atlantic Ocean. After carving out a Christian kingdom on the western portion of the Iberian peninsula, Portuguese kings gradually built and maintained a vast seaborne global empire that became central to the way Portugal understood its individuality as a nation-state. While the creation of this empire allows Portugal to claim an unusual number of "firsts" or distinctions in world and Western history, it also retarded Portugal's economic, social, and political development. It can be reasonably argued that the Revolution of 25 April 1974 was the most decisive event in Portugal's long history because it finally ended Portugal's oceanic mission and view of itself as an imperial power. After the 1974 Revolution, Portugal turned away from its global mission and vigorously reoriented itself toward Europe. Contemporary Portugal is now both in and of Europe.

   The turn toward Europe began immediately after 25 April 1974. Portugal granted independence to its African colonies in 1975. It was admitted to the European Council and took the first steps toward accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1976. On 28 March 1977, the Portuguese government officially applied for EEC membership. Because of Portugal's economic and social backwardness, which would require vast sums of EEC money to overcome, negotiations for membership were long and difficult. Finally, a treaty of accession was signed on 12 June 1985. Portugal officially joined the EEC (the European Union [EU] since 1993) on 1 January 1986. Since becoming a full-fledged member of the EU, Portugal has been steadily overcoming the economic and social underdevelopment caused by its imperial past and is becoming more like the rest of Europe.

   Membership in the EU has speeded up the structural transformation of Portugal's economy, which actually began during the Estado Novo. Investments made by the Estado Novo in Portugal's economy began to shift employment out of the agricultural sector, which, in 1950, accounted for 50 percent of Portugal's economically active population. Today, only 10 percent of the economically active population is employed in the agricultural sector (the highest among EU member states); 30 percent in the industrial sector (also the highest among EU member states); and 60 percent in the service sector (the lowest among EU member states). The economically active population numbers about 5,000,000 employed, 56 percent of whom are women. Women workers are the majority of the workforce in the agricultural and service sectors (the highest among the EU member states). The expansion of the service sector has been primarily in health care and education. Portugal has had the lowest unemployment rates among EU member states, with the overall rate never being more than 10 percent of the active population. Since joining the EU, the number of employers increased from 2.6 percent to 5.8 percent of the active population; self-employed from 16 to 19 percent; and employees from 65 to 70 percent. Twenty-six percent of the employers are women. Unemployment tends to hit younger workers in industry and transportation, women employed in domestic service, workers on short-term contracts, and poorly educated workers. Salaried workers earn only 63 percent of the EU average, and hourly workers only one-third to one-half of that earned by their EU counterparts. Despite having had the second highest growth of gross national product (GNP) per inhabitant (after Ireland) among EU member states, the above data suggest that while much has been accomplished in terms of modernizing the Portuguese economy, much remains to be done to bring Portugal's economy up to the level of the "average" EU member state.