evidence: Map of all territories of the Portuguese Empire (1419-1999) [...] Like another kingdom of the Iberian Peninsula, the decline of the Moores allowed Portugal to make territorial gains during her first few centuries; Portugal started as a country, paying tribute to Leon, but gained complete independence in 1139. After the liberation of the Algarves in 1249, Portugal turned to the Barbary and Gold Coasts in Western Africa, trying to benefit from trade. This led to the first modem European colonial empire and spread farther afield to Brazil, Eastern Africa, Ceylon, and finally Japan. A slow decline of Portuguese power to the benefit of the Dutch caused Portugal to start to lose colonies in the East. Despite this, the Netherlands could not hold onto any Portuguese colonies in the Americas, and finally, Portugal focused most investment there. Political turbulence in the late 1500s resulted in Portugal entering a personal union under Spain, ending the Kingdom’s independence. [...] In the 19th century, At the height of European colonialism, Portugal lost its territory in South America and several bases in Asia. During this phase, Portugal colonialism focused on expanding territories in Africa.