What were the chief causes of the decline of the Portuguese Empire?
The British Empire lasted a lot longer ? Hum… i don’t think so. If the Portuguese Empire is known for something is the understanding that it was the first modern Empire to be established (since the XV century) and the last one to give to all of their colonies the full independence (in the 1970’s). The Portuguese Empire lasted longer than any other modern european Empires. To answer your question with a straight answer is somewhat difficult, because you don’t define the time period or the meaning of decline. There were several declines in the Portuguese Empire along five centuries. Did you mean the decline of the XVI century ? with the Empire reaching their maximum weight in terms of territories dominated, it was severely difficult to maintained such “power”, as Portugal couldn’t dominated them by social presence (demographically speaking), and also the materials brought from the new world increased the envy of rival nations; Portugal lost independence for 60 consecutive years (1580-1
