What was the purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas?

The purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas was to divide the New World between Spain and Portugal. Signed in 1494, this treaty was prompted by the need to resolve competing claims to newly discovered lands following Christopher Columbus's voyages. As both Spain and Portugal were emerging as leading maritime powers and seeking to expand their empires, the Treaty established a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands, giving Spain rights to lands to the west and Portugal rights to the east.

This division aimed to prevent conflict over colonial ambitions in the Americas and ensure that both nations could pursue their exploration and colonization efforts without infringing on each other’s territories. The treaty is significant not only for its immediate impact on Spanish and Portuguese imperial ambitions but also for its long-term effects on global geopolitics, as it laid the groundwork for the colonial divisions that shaped the Americas. While the treaty primarily addressed the interests of Spain and Portugal, its implications were felt throughout the world as European powers continued to explore and colonize various territories.