c 500,000 BC		First human inhabitants of Iberia.
c 5,000 BC		'Iberian' culture emerges.
c 600 BC		Celtic invaders conquer the region and settle.
206 BC		Portugal becomes part of the Roman province of Lusitania.
409 AD		Visigoth invaders from the north arrive and establish a kingdom in Iberia centred on Mérida.
711 AD		The Moors - muslim invaders from North Africa - occupy southern Iberia.
c750 AD		Portucallis - northern part of modern Portugal - falls under control of the Christian Spanish kingdom of León and Asturias.
1064		Southern border of Portucallis pushed further south, as 'reconquista' campaign gathers pace.
1143		Treaty of Zamora - Portucallis gains independence from kingdom of León and Castile.
1179		Portugal recognised by the Pope as an independent kingdom.
1250		Algarve captured from the Moors - frontiers of modern Portugal established.
1294		Commercial treaty signed with England.
1385		Portugal wins war of independence from Castile, with English help.
1386		Treaty of Windsor - England and Portugal form an alliance.
1419-1460		Henry the Navigator oversees an era of great overseas discovery and expansion.
1445		Cape Verde Islands reached.
1488		Portuguese ships sail round the southern tip of Africa.
7 June 1494		Treaty of Tordesillas - divides new overseas territories between Spain and Portugal.
1498		Vasco da Gama reaches India.
1500		Brazil claimed by Portugal.
1580		Spanish and Portuguese kingdoms joined after Portuguese royal family dies out.
15 December 1640		Portugal regains independence.
1668		Treaty of Lisbon - end of prolonged warfare with Spain.
1793		Portugal joins the European coalition against revolutionary France.
1801		War of the Oranges - Portugal invaded and divided between France and Spain.
1807		Napoleonic France invades - royal family flees to Brazil.
1808		British troops under Wellington arrive - start of Peninsular War.
1811		Last French troops forced to leave Portugal.
1820		Liberal revolution creates a constitutional monarchy.
1821		Royal family returns.
1822		Brazil declares independence.
5 October 1910		King abdicates amid revolution - Republic proclaimed.
1916		Portugal joins the Allies in World War I.
May 1926		Army coup ends republican government.
1933		'New State' constitution establishes right-wing dictatorship.
1939-1945		Portugal neutral in World War 2, but lets UK use air bases in the Azores.
1947		Attempted revolt is crushed.
4 April 1949		Portugal becomes a founder member of NATO.
1951		Existing colonies made provinces of equal status to the home country.
1955		Portugal joins the United Nations.
18 December 1961		India annexes Goa. Guerrilla war breaks out in Angola, Guinea and Mozambique.
1962-1964		Guerrilla war breaks out in Angola, Guinea and Mozambique.
25 April 1974		Left wing Armed Forces movement overthrows government.
1975		Angola and Mozambique granted independence - many expatriates return home.
1976		Indonesia seizes East Timor.
27 June 1976		First free Parliamentary elections held in several decades.
1982		Full civilian government formally restored.
January 1986		Portugal joins the EEC.
20 December 1999		Macau returned to China.
January 2002		Portugal introduces the euro as it's official currency.
August 2003		Vast areas of woodland are destroyed in forest fires.
August 2005		Outside help sought to tackle widespread forest fires.