The Treaty of Tordesillas: How Portugal and Spain Divided the World

 HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Hello there, my fellow history enthusiasts! It's a pleasure to be joining you today to talk about one of the most fascinating historical events of the early modern period: the Treaty of Tordesillas.

Front page of the Portuguese-owned treaty. This page is written in Spanish. Photo by Biblioteca Nacional de Lisboa on Wikipedia.

Now, before we dive into the juicy details of this treaty, let me ask you something: have you ever had a roommate who was so messy and disorganized that you had to create a boundary between your spaces? Well, that's kind of what happened with the Treaty of Tordesillas, except instead of dirty socks and unwashed dishes, we're talking about continents and oceans.

Lines dividing the non-Christian world between Castile and Portugal: the 1494 Tordesillas meridian (purple) and the 1529 Zaragoza antimeridian (green) Photo by Lencer on Wikipedia.

Back in the 15th century, Portugal and Spain were two of the most powerful countries in Europe, and they were both hungry for wealth and power. To avoid any conflicts over the territories they might conquer during their overseas explorations, Pope Alexander VI proposed a solution: a treaty that would divide the newly discovered lands between the two countries.

Vasco da Gama's departure to India in 1497. Photo by Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal on Wikipedia.

And so, in 1494, the Treaty of Tordesillas was signed, creating a line that divided the newly discovered lands between Portugal and Spain. The line ran 370 leagues (about 1,770 kilometers) west of the Cape Verde Islands, giving Portugal control over any land to the east of the line, and Spain control over any land to the west.

The 1529 Diogo Ribeiro world map, generally considered to represent the Padrón Real used for deciding the Treaty of Zaragoza. Photo by Diego Ribero and William Griggs on Wikipedia via National Library of Australia.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Wow, that seems like a pretty arbitrary division of land." And you're right! It was basically just a line drawn on a map, and it didn't take into account the fact that the world is round (spoiler alert: it is!).

Portuguese Empire. Photo by Gabriel Ziegler on Wikipedia.

But here's where things get even more interesting: the treaty didn't actually solve anything. Portugal and Spain continued to explore and conquer new territories, and they often found themselves competing for the same lands. Plus, other European powers like England, France, and the Netherlands didn't really care about the treaty, and they started to establish their own colonies in the Americas.

Spanish Empire Photo by Nagihuin on Wikipedia.

So, in the end, the Treaty of Tordesillas was more of a suggestion than an actual law. But it did establish a precedent for dividing up the world between European powers, and it set the stage for centuries of colonialism, exploitation, and conflict.

Columbus landing in 1492 planting the flag of Spain, by John Vanderlyn Photo by John Vanderlyn on Wikipedia via Architect of the Capitol. 

In conclusion, the Treaty of Tordesillas might seem like a boring historical document, but it's actually a fascinating glimpse into the early days of European exploration and colonialism. And if you ever find yourself in a roommate situation, just remember: sometimes a line on a map is all you need to avoid a messy living space. Cheers!

riograndeguardian.com

Oh, by the way, Just wanted to remind you that in addition to my history blog, I also have another blog dedicated to the amazing stories and facts from aviation. It's called aviationisamazing.blogspot.com, and it's packed with interesting facts from the past and nowadays. If you're a fan of learning about aviation in a fun and engaging way, then be sure to check it out! Who knows, you might just learn something new, or at least have a good laugh. Let me know in the comments if you're interested in hearing more!

Comments

  1. rukiy4 May 2023 at 07:36

    pov:(⊙_⊙;) when portugal find out how big the world is.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Battle Between Light and Darkness: Apep vs. Ra

Image
 HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG! Greetings, esteemed readers, and welcome to a hilariously historical showdown! Today, we delve into the ancient Egyptian mythological realm to witness the epic battle between two formidable foes: Apep and Ra. Grab your popcorn and prepare to be entertained by this clash of titans, complete with jokes and laughter! Apep below the bark of Ra with seven knives, Book of the Dead of Amenemsaouf, 21st Dynasty, Louvre Museum, Paris. Photo by Soutekh67 on Wikipedia. Now, imagine a world where the sun rises and sets without a hitch, where darkness and chaos are kept at bay. That world was ancient Egypt, and at the heart of this cosmic drama were Apep, the serpent of chaos, and Ra, the sun god himself. In one of his many forms, Ra, god of the sun, has the head of a falcon and the sun disk inside a cobra resting on his head. Picture this: Ra, the all-powerful sun god, cruising in his mighty solar boat, shining down his glorious rays upon the land. He's the ultim...
Read more

Justinian vs. The Blues and Greens: The Epic Showdown of the Nika Riots

Image
 HELLO AND WELCOME TO MY BLOG! Greetings, history aficionados! Buckle up for a wild ride through the annals of time as we unravel the chaos, drama, and a touch of humor surrounding the infamous Nika Riots. Get ready to travel back to 532 AD, where the chariots were racing, and the people were rioting like it was a toga party gone wrong. historycollection.com Picture this: Constantinople, the grand capital of the Byzantine Empire. The air is charged with excitement as two rival chariot racing factions, the Blues and the Greens, gear up for a showdown that will go down in history as the Nika Riots. It's not your average Sunday afternoon at the Hippodrome; it's an epic clash of colors, horses, and, well, tempers. The ruins of the Hippodrome, Onofrio Panvino, 1580. Photo by antigonejournal.com Now, let's talk about the catalyst for this historical brouhaha. Emperor Justinian, the man with the plan, was facing some serious backlash for his policies. The Blues and the Greens, usu...
Read more

Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter: A Journey through the Catacombs of Paris

Image
 BONJOUR ET BIENVENUE SUR MON BLOG! Greetings, history buffs! Today we're going to talk about one of the spookiest and most fascinating places in Paris - the Catacombs. If you're a fan of horror movies and creepy stories, then buckle up, because this is going to be a wild ride. STOP! HERE IS THE EMPIRE OF DEATH. www.voyageurssansfrontieres.com First off, what exactly are the Catacombs? Well, they're a series of underground tunnels and chambers that run beneath the streets of Paris and are home to the remains of over 6 million people. That's right - six million! These bones were moved to the Catacombs in the late 18th century when Parisian cemeteries were becoming overcrowded and posed a public health risk. Bones from the old cemeteries of Trinité and St. Leu (Boulevard Sebastopol), were deposited in 1859 in the ossuary of the west and transferred to the Catacombs in July 1859. Now, you might be thinking, "Six million bones? That's gotta be the scariest place on...
Read more