The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494 between Spain and Portugal, resulted in the division of newly discovered lands outside Europe, primarily in the Americas. The treaty established a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands, granting Spain rights to lands west of this line and Portugal rights to the east. This agreement shaped colonial claims and influenced the subsequent exploration and colonization of the New World. While it aimed to settle disputes over territories, it also reflects the European powers' interactions and interests in exploiting global resources, often disregarding indigenous populations.