Peace Treaty of Tordesillas

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was an agreement between Spain and Portugal to divide newly discovered lands outside Europe. To prevent conflict, the Pope established a boundary roughly 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, granting Spain rights to most lands west and Portugal rights to those east. This division impacted exploration and colonization, influencing the spread of European influence in the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The treaty aimed to resolve disputes over territories during the Age of Exploration, shaping the geopolitical landscape for centuries.