Basic Facts
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas?
An agreement dividing new lands between Spain and Portugal.
Which two countries signed the treaty?
Spain and Portugal.
The treaty divided lands in which ocean?
The Atlantic Ocean.
Who got most of the Americas?
Spain.
What was one major result of the treaty?
It shaped modern borders in Latin America.
When was the treaty signed?
June 7, 1494.
Who was the king and Queen of Spain when the treaty was signed?
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.
How many leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands was the line drawn?
370 leagues.
Who got Brazil?
Portugal.
Who was left out of the agreement?
Indigenous peoples.
What was the main purpose of the treaty?
To avoid conflict over new discoveries.
Who was the ruler of Portugal?
King John II.
: Which continent did Portugal gain land in as a result?
South America (Brazil).
Who focused more on Asia and Africa after the treaty?
Portugal.
What later treaty adjusted the line further west?
The Treaty of Zaragoza (1529).
Who helped approve the treaty?
Pope Alexander VI.
What did the Pope’s role symbolize about power in Europe?
The Church influenced global politics.
Which modern country was mainly affected by the line?
Brazil.
Who sponsored Christopher Columbus? (country)
Spain.
Why is the treaty important in world history?
It was the first global land division between nations.
What line did the treaty establish?
The Line of Demarcation.
Why was the treaty signed two years after Columbus’ first voyage?
To settle territorial disputes over new lands.
Which side of the line belonged to Spain?
West of the line.
Whose explorers reached India and the Spice Islands?
Portugal.
Why is it remembered today?
It marked the start of European colonial expansion.