Which 1494 treaty divided newly claimed overseas lands between Spain and Portugal?

The Treaty of Tordesillas divided newly claimed overseas lands between Spain and Portugal in 1494.

Negotiated with the involvement of Pope Alexander VI, the treaty drew a meridian in the Atlantic Ocean. Lands to the west were assigned to Castile, represented by Spain, while lands to the east were assigned to Portugal. The agreement attempted to prevent rivalry between the two maritime powers after European voyages across the Atlantic.

The line was difficult to locate accurately because longitude could not then be measured with precision. Its placement also helped explain why Brazil became Portuguese-speaking: much of Brazil lies east of the treaty’s intended demarcation line. The treaty did not grant either kingdom unlimited authority over lands already controlled by Indigenous peoples.

The Treaty of Zaragoza in 1529 later addressed competing claims on the opposite side of the globe. Modern borders and sovereignty do not follow the Tordesillas division.