History of Europe

What did the Treaty of Tordesillas do?

The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement signed between Spain and Portugal on June 7, 1494, which divided the world outside Europe between the two countries. The treaty was intended to prevent conflict between the two countries, which were competing for control of the newly discovered lands in the Americas and Africa.

Under the terms of the treaty, a line of demarcation was drawn from pole to pole, 370 leagues (about 2,300 kilometers) west of the Cape Verde Islands. All lands east of the line were granted to Portugal, while all lands west of the line were granted to Spain. This division gave Portugal control of most of Africa, as well as Brazil, while Spain gained control of the Americas, except for Brazil.

The Treaty of Tordesillas was a significant event in the history of European exploration and colonization. It established the first formal division of the world between European powers and paved the way for further exploration and colonization of the Americas and Africa.