According to the treaty, the line of demarcation was to be drawn 370 leagues (about 2,000 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands. All lands to the east of the line were to belong to Portugal, while all lands to the west were to belong to Spain. This division was based on the assumption that the world was round and that the line would divide the globe in half.
The Treaty of Tordesillas had a significant impact on the history of exploration and colonization. It defined the areas of influence of Spain and Portugal in the Americas and Africa, and helped to prevent conflict between the two countries. It also laid the foundation for the development of the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas and around the world.
Here are some additional details about the Treaty of Tordesillas:
* The treaty was signed in the Spanish town of Tordesillas, located in the province of Valladolid.
* The treaty was negotiated by Spanish and Portuguese diplomats, including Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama.
* The treaty was approved by Pope Alexander VI, who issued a papal bull in 1493 that gave Spain and Portugal the right to divide the world between them.
* The treaty was controversial, as it did not take into account the interests of other European countries, such as England and France.
* The treaty was revised several times over the years, as the actual shape and size of the world became better known.
* The treaty was finally declared null and void in 1777 by the Treaty of San Ildefonso, which replaced it with a new boundary line between Spain and Portugal.