Portugal–Spain border disputed between the two countries for two hundred years. A microstate existed previously on the border called Couto Misto. Districts on the Portuguese side of the border from North to South: Provinces on the Spanish side of the border from North to South: Portugal and Spain signed the Schengen Agreement in June 1991 which came into effect on 26 March 1995, making Portugal and Spain part of the Schengen area and thus the border then became an Open border. Portugal has since reintroduced border checks several times along the border with Spain, during the UEFA Euro 2004 championships, during the
Border Reivers were other factors which promoted a predatory mode of living in the Borders. A system of inheritance called gavelkind meant that estates, and particularly land, were divided equally between all sons on a man's death; although this was considered more fair than primogeniture, it also meant that many people owned insufficient land to survive. Also, much of the border region is mountainous or open moorland, unsuitable for arable farming but good for grazing. Livestock was easily rustled and driven back to raiders' territory by mounted reivers who knew the country well. The raiders also often removed easily portable household goods