To end war between Spain and Portugal
To give Portugal control over spice islands
To divide the non-European world between Spain and Portugal
To create a trade agreement between Portugal and Muslim traders
The purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas was to divide the non-European world between Spain and Portugal. It was signed on June 7, 1494, in the Spanish city of Tordesillas. The treaty was primarily motivated by the rivalry between Spain and Portugal in the exploration and colonization of newly discovered lands during the Age of Discovery. The Pope Alexander VI mediated the dispute between the two countries and drew a meridian line, known as the Line of Demarcation, running from pole to pole, approximately 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. The treaty stated that all lands west of the line would belong to Spain, while all lands east of the line would belong to Portugal. This division of territories aimed to prevent conflicts and establish the spheres of influence for both countries in their respective colonial endeavors.
