Portugal Spain - A 12-episode large-scale television documentary series, The Rise of Great Powers

Author: None
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Publish Date: 2006-11-01
Features: Conquest begins with being conquered. For over two thousand years, from the 11th century BC to the 11th century AD, the Iberian Peninsula was engulfed in constant warfare. This land was successively conquered by the Romans, the Germanic tribes, and the Moors. Like a series of fearless bullfighters, the people living on this land never ceased their struggle against invaders until today. We can still clearly feel the spirit of seeking excitement and adventure, deeply rooted in our genes. Over these long two thousand years, tears, wounds, and sacrifices finally brought the precious freedom. In 1143, an independent monarchy, Portugal, emerged in the war of recapturing its territory and was recognized by the Pope of Rome, becoming the first unified nation-state on the European continent. Portuguese historian J. H. Salaya: In the 12th and 13th centuries, the characteristics of Portugal were that it was not a feudal state divided into petty principalities but a kingdom of the people. The kings of Portugal were supported not only by the nobility, their vassals, but also by the common people. The strong monarchy gave the Portuguese a strong sense of national belonging, but achieving national prosperity still had a long way to go. Portugal had less than 100,000 square kilometers of territory for development and was extremely resource-scarce. The continuous warfare of its neighboring country to the east constantly plagued this barren land. Even after gaining independence, the Portuguese kingdom, after two centuries, remained fraught with crises and instability. How long could this pioneering nation-state last? What would the strong monarchy bring it? Where was the future of the Portuguese nation? The people who lived near the sea for a living had no choice but to turn their eyes to the Atlantic, known as the "Green Sea of Death." This ship-shaped monument was built in 1960 by the Portuguese government to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of "Prince Henry the Navigator." The inscription on the front of the monument reads: "To Henry and the Heroes of Discovering the Sea Route." It was the sea route that helped Portugal escape poverty and backwardness, and it was under the leadership of Henry that Portugal embarked on the journey of conquering the sea. Henry was born in 1394 and was the third son of King John I of Portugal. At that time, Europe was emerging from the dark Middle Ages, and the Renaissance that originated in Italy, like a spark, gradually spread across the continent. The ideas of science and humanism gradually illuminated the sky of Europe. When Henry was 12 years old, in 1406, the publication of a book that had been forgotten for over 1,200 years triggered a revolution in geographical knowledge and concepts—this was the work of the ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy, the Geographia.
The former president of the Portuguese Maritime Exploration Committee, Jorjin Magellan: This book, like many works of other Greek scholars, was once forgotten by the world. During this time, in Asia, the book was not forgotten. In Western Europe, however, it was not until 1406 that it gained attention in Italy. It was not until the late 15th century that it began to be printed and published, gaining wider dissemination. Although Ptolemy's world map is full of errors when viewed today, such as the tight proximity of Africa and the Antarctic,