Treaty of Tordesillas

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494, was an agreement between Portugal and Spain aimed at resolving disputes over newly discovered lands in the Americas and the exploration of the world. It was facilitated by the Pope, who sought to prevent conflict between the two major maritime powers of the era. The treaty established a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, officially dividing the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal.