What was one significant outcome of the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)?

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was a pivotal agreement between Spain and Portugal that aimed to resolve disputes over newly discovered lands as European powers began to explore and colonize the Americas and other regions. The treaty established a demarcation line that allocated territories to each country, giving Spain control over lands to the west of the line and Portugal control over lands to the east. This division was significant because it shaped the colonial ambitions and territorial claims of both nations, directly influencing their exploration and settlement patterns in the New World.

The importance of this treaty cannot be understated, as it allowed Spain and Portugal to expand their empires without conflict in the newly discovered territories, leading to the establishment of vast colonial possessions that would lay the groundwork for their global influence. Other European powers, like France and England, would later contest these claims, but the treaty marked a critical moment in the early age of exploration and imperial expansion.