Portugal is part of that vast Tract of Land, known by the Name of _Iberia_ or _Spain_, most of whose Provinces are call'd Kingdoms. It is bounded on the West by the Ocean, on the East by _Castile_. Its Length is about a hundred and ten Leagues, and its Breadth in the very broadest part does not exceed fifty. The Soil is fruitful, the Air wholesome; and tho under such a Climate we might expect excessive Heats, yet here we always find them allay'd with cooling Breezes or refreshing Rains. Its Crown is Hereditary, the King's Power Despotick, nor is the grand Inquisition the most useless means of preserving this absolute Authority. The _Portuguese_ are by Nature proud and haughty, very zealous, but rather superstitious than religious; the most natural Events will amongst them pass for Miracles, and they are firmly persuaded that Heaven is always contriving something or other for their Good. Who the first Inhabitants of this Country were, is not known, their own Historians indeed tell us that they are sprung from _Tubal_; for my part, I believe them descended from the _Romans_ and _Carthaginians_, who long contended for those Provinces, and who were both at sundry times in actual possession of them. About the beginning of the fifth Century, the _Swedes_, the _Vandals_, and all those other barbarous Nations, generally known by the Name of _Goths_, over-run the Empire; and, amongst other Places, made themselves Masters of the Provinces of _Spain_. _Portugal_ was then made a Kingdom, and was sometimes govern'd by its own Prince, at other times it was reckon'd part of the Dominions of the King of _Castile_. [Sidenote: 712.] About the beginning of the eighth Century, during the Reign of _Roderick_, the last King of the _Goths_, the _Moors_, or rather the _Arabians_, _Valid Almanzor_ being their Caliph, enter'd _Spain_. They were received and assisted by _Julian_, an _Italian_ Nobleman, who made the Conquest of those Places easy, which might otherwise have proved difficult, not out of any Affection to the _Arabians_, but from a Desire of revenging himself on _Roderick_, who had debauched his Daughter. [Sidenote: 717.] The _Arabians_ soon made themselves Masters of all the Country between the Streights of _Gibraltar_ and the _Pyrenees_, excepting the Mountains of _Asturia_; where the Christians, commanded by Prince _Pelagus_, fled, who founded the Kingdom _Oviedo_ or _Leon_. _Portugal_, with the rest of _Spain_, became subject to the Infidels. In each respective Province, Governours were appointed, who after the Death of _Almanzor_ revolted from his Successor, made themselves independent of any other Power, and took the Title of Sovereign Princes.