Abstract

This exploratory text was written in the context of the doctoral research entitled «Cultura Popular, Nacionalismo e Regionalismo: Génese Social da Região em Portugal – o Ribatejo» and briefly addresses the process of geographical individualization and administrative autonomy of Ribatejo in the creation of the nation-state and the scientific and academic affirmation of Geography.
In the first section, the author proceeds to the geographical and administrative characterization of the territory identified simultaneously as ribatejano. Ribatejo is described as a region with somewhat imprecise and fluid boundaries, possessing a distinct personality shaped by large estates, peasant migrations, and the morphological influence of the Tagus River and its tributaries. This characterization is supported by historical and geographical studies that place Ribatejo at the intersection of the Estremadura, Beiras, and Alentejo regions, underscoring its unique geographical and social features.
In the second section, the paper reviews how the Portuguese Geography of the 20th century has recognized its individuality in a political and cultural context marked by nationalism and regionalism. The text points out that geographical studies have recognized and reproduced Ribatejo as a region with substantial agricultural importance and symbolic centrality, reflecting its historical and contemporary contributions to national identity and economic activity.
Finally, the author traces the history of Ribatejo as a popular, erudite, and official geographical notion, with multiple administrative translations and different territorial expressions from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period. He discusses the impact of different administrative and symbolic processes on the region, including the formation of the Santarém district, the influence of metropolitanization and regional development policies, and the evolving representations of Ribatejo in geographical and cultural contexts.