The chief result of the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was the division of newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal. The treaty aimed to resolve territorial disputes arising from explorations and established a demarcation line, granting Spain the rights to lands west of the line and Portugal the rights to those east of it. This agreement significantly influenced colonial expansion and shaped the political map of the Americas and Africa. However, it did not account for the rights of indigenous peoples and led to the exploitation of various territories by both nations.