Latest / The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History / Treaty of Zaragoza: How Spain and Portugal Split Asia
Transcript
- Lucas: So last time we talked about the Treaty of Tordesillas, that line Pope Alexander VI drew through the Atlantic, basically giving Spain everything west of the line and Portugal everything east. But that only covered the Atlantic world. What about the other side of the globe? The Portuguese had already reached the Spice Islands — the Moluccas — and the Spanish, after Magellan's voyage, claimed they were on their side of the world. Luna: So they had to draw another line for the Pacific? Lucas: Exactly. And that's what the Treaty of Zaragoza, signed in 1529, was all about. It was the second papal-mediated division of the world, this time trying to settle who got the Moluccas — the source of cloves and nutmeg, which were worth more than gold in the 16th century. The Spanish and Portuguese had been bickering for years, and the treaty was supposed to end it once and for all. If you've been following these conversations about how Europe carved up the world, you might appreciate that listener support keeps shows like this going ad-free. If you're able, you can help at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Anyway, the negotiations were intense — both sides sent experts to figure out exactly where the antimeridian of Tordesillas fell. Luna: And they actually managed to agree? Lucas: Barely. The Spanish emperor Charles V was deeply in debt from his wars in Europe, and the Portuguese king John III had deep pockets from the spice trade. So Charles basically agreed to sell his claim to the Moluccas for 350,000 ducats — a huge sum. In return, the Portuguese recognized Spanish rights to the Philippines, even though the islands were technically on the Portuguese side of the line. It was a messy compromise. Luna: Wait — so the Spanish bought the Moluccas? Or sold them? Lucas: Sold. Charles V sold his claim to Portugal. The treaty established a new line 297.5 leagues east of the Moluccas, giving Portugal the islands and Spain everything west of that line, which included most of the Pacific. But here's the ironic part — the Spanish never really honored it fully. They continued to explore and settle in the Philippines, which became their base for the Manila Galleon trade. The treaty basically formalized a division that didn't reflect reality on the ground. Luna: So the treaty was more about theory than practice? Lucas: In many ways, yes. The two empires kept pushing boundaries. But the Treaty of Zaragoza did prevent a direct war between Spain and Portugal over the Spice Islands — at least for a while. It also set a precedent for using imaginary lines to divide the world, which later European powers would adopt. The treaty was negotiated by diplomats like Mercurino di Gattinara on the Spanish side and Lopo Soares on the Portuguese, and it was signed in the city of Zaragoza, hence the name. Luna: And what happened to the people already living there? Lucas: They were completely ignored. The Sultan of Ternate and Tidore, the local rulers who controlled the clove trade, had no say. The treaty treated the islands as property to be traded between European crowns. The indigenous sultanates continued to play the Spanish and Portuguese against each other for decades, but eventually the Dutch would push both out. The Treaty of Zaragoza is a perfect example of how European colonialism operated — drawing lines on a map without any regard for the people whose lands were being divided. Luna: It's almost absurd when you think about it. Lucas: Absolutely. And the geographical confusion didn't help. The line of Tordesillas was never precisely measured, so the anti-meridian in the Pacific was even harder to pin down. The treaty used a league as a unit, but different countries defined leagues differently. So the exact location of the line was disputed for centuries. But for the immediate goal — keeping peace between Spain and Portugal — it worked. They didn't go to war over the Moluccas. Luna: So the treaty actually prevented conflict in the short term. Lucas: Exactly. But it also cemented a division that shaped Southeast Asia. The Philippines became Spanish Catholic, while Indonesia mostly fell under Portuguese and later Dutch influence. The religious and cultural boundaries in the region today can be traced back to this agreement. The Treaty of Zaragoza is less famous than Tordesillas, but in some ways it had a more lasting impact on Asia. Luna: And it shows how colonialism was a European conversation from the start. Lucas: Right. No one from Asia, Africa, or the Americas was at the table. The pope, the emperor, and the king decided the fate of millions. It's a stark reminder of how the modern world was shaped by decisions made far away by a handful of men. The Treaty of Zaragoza may be obscure, but its echoes are still felt whenever we talk about the global south's borders and identities. Luna: So next time I smell cloves, I'll think of this treaty. Lucas: And you should. That spice was literally worth its weight in gold and drove European expansion across the globe. Anyway, next time we'll look at how these treaties eventually unraveled as other European powers — the Dutch, the English, the French — started ignoring them altogether. But that's a story for another day.