The main purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was to resolve disputes between Spain and Portugal over newly discovered lands in the Americas and beyond. The treaty established a demarcation line, with lands to the west designated for Spain and those to the east for Portugal. This agreement aimed to prevent conflict between the two maritime powers as they expanded their empires. Ultimately, the treaty facilitated European colonization and exploration efforts, shaping the geopolitical landscape of the New World and influencing global trade routes for centuries to come.