What was the importance of the Treaty of Tordesillas in shaping colonial empires? 🔊
The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was crucial in shaping colonial empires by dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal along a meridian. This agreement, initiated by the Pope, aimed to mitigate conflicts over territories, granting Spain rights to the west and Portugal the east. It established the foundation for Spain's extensive colonization of the Americas and Portugal's control over parts of Africa and Asia. The treaty not only impacted the geopolitical landscape of the age but also had lasting cultural and linguistic consequences, influencing global trade and colonization patterns for centuries.


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