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The Spanish did not fail. They simply could not take over what is called Brazil now because there was a treaty (the Treaty of Tordesillas) between Portugal and Spain about dividing the World back then. That is why the people of Brazil speak Portuguese instead of Spanish.
Anyway, Portuguese are very different from Spanish. Historically we had an fundamental alliance with England to Survive (they helped against Napoleonic invasions and Spanish), which makes our society very "british" (mild/moderate temperate, general good level of english, Mourinho, English soccer, Port Wine, influence of british tourism, etc)
I think the two of them are quite similar, like sibling countries but of course there are differences. Both have great gastronomy, Portugal more focused on fish. Some cultural traditions are shared. People's way of life is also almost the same.
Anyway, Portuguese are very different from Spanish. Historically we had an fundamental alliance with England to Survive (they helped against Napoleonic invasions and Spanish), which makes our society very "british" (mild/moderate temperate, general good level of english, Mourinho, English soccer, Port Wine, influence of british tourism, etc)
Do you honestly believe Portuguese are culturally closer to British than to Spaniards?
Last year Mourinho was in Spain, where we closer to Spain back then?
Things we share with Spanish:
1000km of borders
Religion
Climate/landcape
Ethnicity/Blood, I am 3/16 Spanish, and it happens a lot here near the border.
We both dine/go to bed very late
high unemployment
Differences:
Spain still has monarchs.
Spain is a federal state.
Spain are more extroverted.
Cuisine is very different.
Last edited by tarzan_taborda; 01-03-2014 at 02:07 PM..
The Spanish did not fail. They simply could not take over what is called Brazil now because there was a treaty (the Treaty of Tordesillas) between Portugal and Spain about dividing the World back then. That is why the people of Brazil speak Portuguese instead of Spanish.
The first statement is wrong ...
The Tordesillas treaty was signed in 1492 after Columbus reached the Americas, which according to the old treaty belonged to Portugal.
There was a lot of tension, and the portuguese crown already suspected there was a rich land in the south (parts of Brazil) so they reached into agreement in order to avoid war and a new treaty was signed in 1492 which is what you're referring as the Tordesillas treaty ... Brazil was discovered 8 years later in 1500 by Pedro Alvares Cabral and his fleet.
As mentioned above, the Treaty of Tordesillas and later the Treaty of Zaragoza effectively put much of coastal Brazil in Portugal's sphere of influence. Once gold was discovered in Brazil, Portuguese settlers began moving into the interior of the country and Brazil took it's modern shape. The Treaty of Madrid in 1750 affirmed Portugal's right to rule over the areas it occupied in South America. The Treaty of El Pardo was signed in 1761 to establish more clear borders, and finally the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1777 recognized Portugal's rule over the Amazon basin.
As for the differences in the two countries, I would say that the cultures are more similar than they are different. Spaniards seem to be much more outspoken and gregarious, similar to Italians. Whilst in Portugal people are a little more reserved. Spain also seems to be more socially liberal than Portugal, having legalized gay marriage and abortion before Portugal. Though both countries are much more liberal than Italy and especially Greece. Galicia in northwest Spain seems to have a very similar culture to that of Northern Portugal and Galician and Portuguese seeming to be nearly identical languages.
One thing that is interesting is that though they are neighbors, Spaniards outside of the border regions know very little about Portugal. The Portuguese tend to know a bit more about Spain as it is a larger more well known country, however until the 1980s both countries had their backs turned to one another.
Both countries had large colonial empires which influenced their history. Spain tends to value its relations with Latin America, and Portugal with Brazil and Africa. Portuguese cuisine seems to have more Asian influence as its a bit spicier with ingredients such as piri-piri.
I don't think there are that many similarities between Portugal and Spain as people like to say. IMO Portugal is much more similar to Brazil in most aspects than Spain.
Portugal and Spain are very similar, culturally. If you look at all the countries they colonized, they are all 3rd world countries with high levels of income disparity, poverty, low levels of educational attainment and usually high crime.
The Portuguese and Spanish way of doing things is very similar-both have this inability to deal with reality as is, they live in a reality that only exists in their minds. The guy from Lisbon who says that Portuguese people are like British is a great example of what I am talking about.
Both have a huge inferiority complex compared to other more developed European countries- Often when I met a Portuguese person, they have this need to brag about how great their country is in an almost delusional manner.
Both cultures can be incredibly racist and classist- they treat South Americans like garbage but then when they go to a more developed country like Switzerland or France, they complain about being treated badly.
And one other cultural factor that is interesting, they always blame their faults and misfortunes on others, which goes together with their inability to face reality as is.
Both cultures are the complete opposite of anything that could lead to progress and development- look at their unemployment rate and the way they handle their economic matters- they are very similar!
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