Latest / The Rise of Colonialism: How Europe Divided the World — Fexingo History
The Treaty of Tordesillas: Dividing the World by Line
In 1493, just a year after Columbus returned from the Americas, Pope Alexander VI issued the bull Inter caetera, drawing an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean. This episode explores how Portugal and Spain negotiated this division, leading to the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. We examine the diplomatic maneuvering between King John II of Portugal and Ferdinand and Isabella of Castile, who moved the line westward to claim Brazil. The conversation also touches on the legal and theological justifications used to legitimize colonial expansion, the role of papal authority in global affairs, and…
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