Treaty of Tordesillas

By History And Culture Media

7/27/2025

The Treaty of Tordesillas: Dividing the New World Between Spain and Portugal

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was a pivotal agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two maritime powers. Brokered by the Pope to avoid conflict during the Age of Exploration, this treaty shaped the colonial map of the world, especially in South America, and laid the foundation for the global empires of both nations.

Background: Why the Treaty Was Needed

Following Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Americas in 1492, both Spain and Portugal claimed rights to new territories. Tensions grew as both kingdoms sought exclusive access to the lucrative trade routes and lands of the “New World.”

In 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued the Papal Bull Inter caetera, granting Spain control of lands west of a demarcation line. Portugal protested, leading to the need for a negotiated treaty that both nations would recognize.

Key Terms of the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)

The Treaty of Tordesillas was signed on June 7, 1494, in Tordesillas, Spain. The main provisions included:

A meridian line was established 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands.
Spain was granted all lands west of the line.
Portugal was granted all lands east of the line.
The treaty excluded lands already under Christian rule.
Neither indigenous peoples nor other European powers were consulted.

This east-west division effectively gave Brazil to Portugal (discovered in 1500), while Spain gained the rest of the Americas.

Impact on Global Exploration and Colonization

The Treaty of Tordesillas had long-term geopolitical consequences and influenced the course of world history:

Spain:

Dominated most of Central and South America, including Mexico, Peru, and the Philippines.
Led the Spanish Empire to become one of the largest empires in history.

Portugal:

Gained control of Brazil in the New World.
Expanded its influence in Africa, India, and East Asia, including Goa, Macau, and Mozambique.

The treaty ensured that Spanish and Portuguese explorers operated in different hemispheres, avoiding direct conflict (for a time) and enabling rapid global colonization.

Legacy and Modern Relevance

Although the Treaty of Tordesillas was later superseded by other treaties and ignored by emerging European powers like England, France, and the Netherlands, its legacy remains:

The Portuguese language in Brazil versus Spanish in the rest of Latin America.
Early global trade networks and colonization patterns.
Historical roots of modern geopolitical borders in South America and beyond.

In 1506, the treaty was reaffirmed by the Treaty of Zaragoza, which extended the division line to the opposite side of the globe in the East Indies.

Conclusion

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) was a landmark agreement that divided the world between Spain and Portugal, shaping the global order during the Age of Discovery. Though based on a Eurocentric view and signed without the input of indigenous peoples, the treaty had lasting consequences that are still visible in modern languages, cultures, and political boundaries.