Treaty of Tordesillas Divides the World

Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas, moving the papal line of demarcation to 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. Land east of the line (including most of Brazil and Africa) goes to Portugal; land west (most of the Americas) goes to Spain. The treaty is mediated by Pope Alexander VI and excludes all other European powers, sowing seeds of future conflicts with France, England, and the Netherlands. The indigenous peoples of the Americas have no voice in the division.