Treaty of Tordesillas

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was an agreement between Spain and Portugal to divide newly discovered lands outside Europe. It established a line, drawn west of the Cape Verde Islands, granting Spain the rights to lands to the west and Portugal those to the east. This treaty aimed to prevent conflicts over colonization, as both countries sought to expand their empires. Though it was recognized by the Pope, it disregarded the land claims of other nations and indigenous peoples. Ultimately, the treaty shaped colonial strategies in the Americas and beyond for centuries.