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The '''Treaty of Tordesillas''' (June 7, 1494) was an agreement which divided the non-Christian world into two zones of influence, one for [[Spain]] and the other for [[Portugal]].

The '''Treaty of Tordesillas''' (June 7, 1494) was an agreement which divided the non-Christian world into two zones of influence, one for [[Spain]] and the other for [[Portugal]]. The line was drawn 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, [[Spain]] gained west of the line while [[Portugal]] was given possession of any unclaimed territory to the east of the line.

In 1493 the pope ([[Alexander VI]].) attempted to settle a dispute between Spain and Portugal by giving the New World to Spain and [[India]] and [[Africa]] to Portugal.  The Treaty of Tordesillas formalized this agreement with a key change that shifted the demarcation line to a circle, which enabled Portugal to claim [[Brazil]] also.

The treaty originated in 1493, when the pope ([[Alexander VI]].) attempted to settle a dispute between Spain and Portugal by giving the New World to Spain and [[India]] and [[Africa]] to Portugal.  The Treaty of Tordesillas formalized this agreement with a key change that shifted the demarcation line to a circle, which enabled Portugal to claim [[Brazil]] also.  

[[category:European History]]

[[category:European History]]