The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 aimed to resolve territorial disputes between Spain and Portugal. This agreement established an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean, dividing the newly discovered lands between the two nations. Spain was granted rights to lands west of the line, while Portugal received rights to lands east of it. This division was significant because it influenced colonial expansion and the distribution of resources in the Americas and beyond. The treaty reflected the European powers’ desire to monopolize trade and territories during the Age of Discovery, leading to the establishment of vast colonial empires that shaped world history.