Portugese Archers

[Dr.Acula]

I just started to play as the portugese and have noticed that they lack any good archer unites, they have peassant archers it think but nothing else, my question is that do they get archers later on and are crossbowmen the same as archers.

Thanks

[R'as al Ghul]

No, Archers are not the same as Xbowmen. Xbos are way stronger, because they're "armour piercing" (AP).
I wouldn't buy any Archers as the Portuguese. I would build my main armies of Jinetes. Later you should recruit some Crossbow Militia from Cities. They have the same stats as Peasant Xbows from Castles but building up the city line will give you access to the sword militia. Levelling up the ranges in a castle will eventually give you access to Pavise Xbow and Mounted Xbow.
I'd encourage you to try all Cav armies to fight enemy armies and use only a limited amount of infantry at all (at least in the early game).
Don't be afraid of enemy archers, just charge them (alt-right click) with your Jinetes at the start of the battle, make sure they don't make contact with any spears (are you using the shield fix?) and pull out when the archers are destroyed. Repeat until all archers are gone and continue to rain javelins on everything else. When the enemy units are considerably downscaled by javelins, you may charge them with Mailed knights or multiple jinetes. Always try to surround the enemy and rain death on him from all sides, then charge and mop up.
Very late in the game the lack of archers will be made up with nice Gunpowder units.