The Treaty of Tordesillas

subsequent reactions and conflicts

Abstract

At the end of the 15th century, the world known to Europeans was undergoing a transformation. The crowns of Castile and Portugal were competing for control of new trade routes and territories discovered beyond the Atlantic. In this context, the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494, was the result of a series of historical events related to European maritime expansion; it represented a fundamental agreement that delimited the areas of exploration and conquest of both kingdoms, with consequences that would last for centuries. However, the lack of precision in delimiting the demarcation line and the intervention of other European powers led to new conflicts and negotiations in the following decades. This article will focus mainly on the analysis of the various treaties that followed the Treaty of Tordesillas, which attempted to resolve the disputes between Spain and Portugal over the delimitation of borders in the America.