The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Azores and Canary Islands. It was essentially an attempt to resolve disputes over claims to the newly discovered lands in the Americas and Asia following Columbus's voyages. Spain received the majority of the Americas, while Portugal was granted rights over parts of Africa, Asia, and eventually Brazil. This treaty significantly influenced the colonial map, shaping the later development of both empires and their global expeditions.