What was the significance of the Treaty of Tordesillas?

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was significant because it established a demarcation line that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two major maritime powers of the time, Spain and Portugal. This treaty was aimed at resolving disputes over newly explored territories, particularly following Columbus's voyages to the Americas. Under this agreement, lands to the west of the line were granted to Spain, while those to the east were reserved for Portugal.

By formalizing this division, the treaty had profound implications for the colonial expansion of both Spain and Portugal, leading to the establishment of vast empires in the New World and parts of Africa and Asia. This division also laid the groundwork for the patterns of colonial rule and influenced international relations for centuries. The treaty reflects the early attempts by European powers to assert their control over global exploration and trade, setting the stage for the complex interactions that would follow in the context of imperialism.

Other options do not capture the primary objective and outcomes of the treaty. Ending the slave trade was not addressed in this agreement, while establishing trade routes with Africa and the independence of Caribbean nations occurred much later and were part of different historical contexts. Thus, the significance of the Treaty of Tordesillas lies primarily in