Treaty of Tordesillas

As Spain and Portugal began to explore the world, the two countries found themselves in a dispute over who could claim what. This dispute led to the pope dividing the world and giving Spain and Portugal the right to claim any non-Christian land as their own. What about the people who already lived there? Why didn't other countries get involved? Let's explore these questions and more as we look at the Treaty of Tordesillas!

Treaty of Tordesillas Definition

For context, let's go back to 1453 and the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans. When this great city fell, the Ottomans gained control of many long-standing trade routes. Some of these routes were closed while others were heavily taxed. This left Europeans wanting a new route to Asia.

The main two countries searching for new routes were Spain and Portugal. Both countries followed rules set in place by old treaties, like the Treaty of Alcacovas. Portugal was looking for a way around Africa's Southern tip to India while Spain looked westward. As the Portuguese drew closer and closer to finding their sea route, Spain sponsored Christopher Columbus to find a westward passage in 1492.

Fig 1: Columbus' First Voyage

Columbus didn't discover a westward passage, but he did find a route to the New World. On his return to Spain, he stopped in Portugal Columbus told the king about his discoveries and then returned to Spain. The king of Portugal claimed that even though Columbus was sponsored by Spain, based on old treaties, the land was Portugal's.

Treaty of Tordesillas Period

Spain realized that Portugal's navy was stronger, thus, a military solution was out of the question. Instead, the Spanish monarchs, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, asked the Pope to intervene. Pope Alexander VI issued that Spain could claim any lands not ruled by a Christian king. This was too vague for Spain and Portugal.

The monarchs sent representatives to convince the Pope to give a more conclusive decree. They reminded him that he was from Aragon and if he wasn't helpful then the Spanish would not allow their military to aid him the next time that he needed it, and they would stop donating to the church.

The Line of Demarcation

In 1493, Alexander issued a papal bull that divided the world in two. What was west of this imaginary line would be Spain's to claim while the east was Portugal's. This was called the Line of Demarcation. Portugal already had many ports set up along the east so the line would theoretically not affect them. Or at least that is what the Pope was hoping.

At this point, no one really knew that Christopher Columbus had discovered a route to North America, that wouldn't happen until 1503. In 1506, Pope Julius II ratified the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Pedro Alvares Cabral and Brazil

In an effort to spread Catholicism, the Portuguese sent Pedro Alvares Cabral to follow Vasco de Gama's path around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. They wanted him to go out a little bit further than de Gama did to see if anything was further out. Cabral landed on the coast of South America in Brazil and claimed it for Portugal in 1500.

Treaty of Tordesillas Purpose

Fig 2: Line of Demarcation and the Treaty of Tordesillas

• The Line of Demarcation divided the non-Christian world, the west was Spain's, and the east was Portugal's
• The Treaty of Tordesillas pushed the line to the west so that Portuguese ships would have room to sail around the southern tip of Africa.

Treaty of Tordesillas Impact and Effects

The Treaty of Demarcation specified that Spain and Portugal could claim land that was not claimed by Christian rulers. Christianity was not global at this point, so European countries could claim lands in Africa and, eventually, the New World.

Brazil is the only country in South America where the primary language is Portuguese and not Spanish. That is because Brazil was the only large landmass that fell within Portugal's territory. If you look at the map above, you will see how Brazil has expanded today, but in 1500, when the first Colony Brazil began, it was within the Portuguese's side of the Treaty of Tordesillas marker.

The Treaty of Tordesillas' Significance

This Treaty prevented war between two powerful countries. Spain and Portugal were able to reach a mutual agreement without resulting in violence and bloodshed.

On the other hand, the Treaty of Tordesillas divided the world into two parts and gave them to Portugal and Spain. It permitted them to go to these places that were already inhabited and take whatever they wanted as long as the people living there were not Christian.

This treaty condoned the horrible things that the Spanish did in the Caribbean, South America, and Central America. It stated that the Portuguese could do no wrong in Africa as long as the people there were not Christians. The effects of this treaty are still felt in the Americas, Africa, and Asia today.