The Treaty of Tordesillas: A Significant Agreement in Global Politics Dividing the World between Spain and Portugal

Treaty of Tordesillas

The agreement settling the dispute between Spain & Portugal for land in the Americas.

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement signed on June 7, 1494, between Spain and Portugal. The treaty divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two countries. Specifically, it drew a line on a map that was to be followed, dividing the world into two parts. All the land to the east of the line went to Portugal, and all the land to the west of the line went to Spain, with the exception of Brazil, which was later awarded to Portugal under the treaty.

The line was drawn at a distance of 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. This line was later moved further east due to Portuguese protests, which led to the Treaty of Zaragoza in 1529.

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an incredibly significant agreement in the history of global politics, as it effectively divided the world between two European powers. It also had a major impact on the colonization of the Americas, as Spain was able to claim most of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, while Portugal was able to claim Brazil and parts of Africa and Asia.

It’s important to note that the Treaty of Tordesillas was not universally accepted, and other European powers, such as England, France, and the Netherlands, did not recognize its authority. Ultimately, the treaty was a symbol of the increasing power and influence of European empires during the Age of Discovery.

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