However, events such as the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the country's occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence of Brazil (1822) erased to a great extent Portugal's prior opulence. During this time Portugal monopolized the spice trade, divided the world into hemispheres of dominion with Castile, and the empire expanded with military campaigns in Asia. During this period, today referred to as the Age of Discovery, Portuguese explorers pioneered maritime exploration with the discovery of what would become Brazil (1500). In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal established the first global maritime and commercial empire, becoming one of the world's major economic, political and military powers. The Kingdom of Portugal was later proclaimed following the Battle of Ourique (1139), and independence from León was recognized by the Treaty of Zamora (1143). Founded in 868, the County of Portugal gained prominence after the Battle of São Mamede (1128). Portugal as a country was established during the early Christian Reconquista. After the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors, most of its territory was part of Al-Andalus. It was inhabited by pre-Celtic and Celtic peoples, visited by Phoenicians- Carthaginians, Ancient Greeks and ruled by the Romans, who were followed by the invasions of the Suebi and Visigothic Germanic peoples. Portugal is the oldest nation state on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the oldest in Europe, its territory having been continuously settled, invaded and fought over since prehistoric times. The official and national language is Portuguese. Portugal's territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, both autonomous regions with their own regional governments. It is the westernmost sovereign state in mainland Europe, bordered to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east by Spain, the sole country to have a land border with Portugal. Portugal ( Portuguese: ), officially the Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: República Portuguesa ), is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe. ^ Portuguese Constitution adopted in 1976 with several subsequent minor revisions, between 19.Portuguese Sign Language is also recognized. ^ Mirandese, spoken in some villages of the municipality of Miranda do Douro, was officially recognized in 1999 ( Lei n.° 7/99 de 29 de Janeiro), awarding it an official right-of-use.