The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494 between Spain and Portugal, was significant for global exploration as it divided newly discovered lands outside Europe. The treaty established an imaginary line in the Atlantic Ocean, granting Spain rights to the west and Portugal to the east. This agreement aimed to resolve the disputes over newly explored territories and promote peaceful exploration. It had lasting impacts on colonial expansion, as it laid the groundwork for Spanish and Portuguese empires, influencing the linguistic, cultural, and political landscapes of the Americas and parts of Africa and Asia. The treaty symbolized early European global ambitions.