The Portuguese opened the waters of the African shores to Europe. With their navigation skills they sailed to the African shores as early as the 1440's.  Though they were the first to have colonies and outposts, they were the last to leave the African continent. They resisted all along the way.  All their colonies (Angola, Cape Verde Islands, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe Islands) were engaged in armed struggle to gain independence. Independence was abruptly granted in ...