The Treaty of Tordesillas: Dividing the Newly-Discovered Territories of the New World Between Portugal and Castile

Treaty of Tordesillas

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

The Treaty of Tordesillas was a treaty signed on June 7, 1494, between the Kingdom of Portugal and the Kingdom of Castile (Spain). The treaty was mediated by the Pope Alexander VI, and its purpose was to divide the newly-discovered territories of the New World (the Americas) between Portugal and Castile.

The treaty aimed to resolve the territorial conflicts that emerged after the discovery of the Americas by Cristopher Columbus in 1492. Portugal and Castile both claimed rights to the newly-discovered lands, which led to a dispute between both nations. The Pope intervened and divided the lands into two parts. According to the treaty, all the lands and territories located to the west of an imaginary line, situated 370 leagues west of Cape Verde, belonged to Castile. All the territories located to the east of this line fell under the jurisdiction of Portugal.

The treaty had a significant impact on the colonization and exploration of the Americas. It helped to establish the boundaries of the colonial empires of Portugal and Castile, and it set the stage for the influx of European settlers into the New World. The Treaty of Tordesillas was also noteworthy for being the first international agreement that divided territories between European powers without taking into account the will and interests of the native populations.

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