Caminhos de ferro, população e desigualdades territoriais em Portugal, 1801-1930

Abstract

Historiography on railways in Portugal has mainly analysed their impact on the country as a whole and has paid little attention to their influence on population dynamics. This article argues that railways stimulated population growth in the areas served by this infrastructure that they contributed to urban development and encouraged internal migration. Their effects, however, were not the same in all parts of the country: railways benefited the already prosperous regions (Atlantic North) and had a negative influence in areas with greater structural weaknesses (Inland North). Beyond that it was unable to attract a significant migrant population.

Keywords

• railways
• population
• territorial inequality
• SIG and History