The signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 marked a historical event that divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal. This agreement, brokered by the Pope, established a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, granting Portugal exclusive rights to the lands east of this line and Spain the rights to the west. The treaty aimed to resolve disputes over newly discovered territories resulting from exploration and colonization. While it facilitated Spanish and Portuguese expansion, it ultimately disregarded the rights of indigenous populations and set the stage for future colonial conflicts.