Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History
The Treaty of Tordesillas and the Line That Divided the World
In this episode, we trace the diplomatic intrigue behind the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas, the agreement that effectively split the non-European world between Spain and Portugal. We move beyond the simple map lines to explore how Portuguese navigators, led by figures like João de Barros, used celestial observations and maritime data to push the demarcation line westward, securing Brazil for Lisbon while Madrid claimed the bulk of the Americas. The conversation examines the role of papal bulls, the geopolitical tension with Castile, and the long-term consequences of drawing an arbitrary meridian…
The skinny
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