2. 1800’s During the height of European colonialism in the1800’s, Portugal had lost its territory in South America and most of its bases in Asia At this time, Portugal focused on expanding its outposts in Africa into nation-sized territories Portuguese territory included the modern nations of Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, and Mozambique.
3. 1900’s In World War I, German troops threatened Mozambique, so Portugal entered the war in an attempt to protect its territories. In the beginning of World War II, decolonization movements began to gain support. The Cold War too created chaos among Portuguese overseas populations when the United States and Soviet Union attempted to increase their spheres of influence.
