Latest / The History of Portugal: The Small Nation That Built a Global Empire — Fexingo History
The Treaty of Tordesillas: How Portugal Divided the World
In 1494, two small European kingdoms drew a line on a map and claimed half the planet. This episode explores the diplomatic machinations behind the Treaty of Tordesillas, where Pope Alexander VI initially split the world east to west, only for King John II of Portugal to negotiate a better deal by moving the line 370 leagues west. We look at how this single act gave Portugal its claim to Brazil while granting Spain the Americas, and why the treaty ultimately failed to prevent conflict with other rising powers like England and France who simply ignored the papal decree. The conversation…
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