1. Age of Exploration andAge of Exploration and
Treaty of TordesillasTreaty of Tordesillas

2. Marco……POLO!!!Marco……POLO!!!
Marco Polo, an Italian explorer
returned to Venice, Italy from China in
1295.
He wrote a book describing the China
(The far east) as a magnificent place
filled with riches and resources.
200 years later, Kings from Europe
were allowing explorers to look for
these resources and valuable materials
(gold).

3. A growing interestA growing interest
Most Europeans had no idea the
Western hemisphere existed
Goods from the Far East began
appearing in European markets and
people started becoming interested in
distant land.

4. Treaty of TordesillasTreaty of Tordesillas

5. Who and Why?Who and Why?
Signed between Spain and Portugal
◦ June 7, 1494
◦ Ratified by Spain July 2nd.
◦ Agreed to by Portugal on September 5th
.
Designed to divide the world outside
Europe.
Intended to resolve disputes between the
two powers when Columbus returned in
1493.
Talks were conducted because of a papal
decree.

6. Terms to knowTerms to know
Meridian: A line of longitude running
north-south through the poles and
measured east to west.
Statute mile (Our mile): 5,280 feet.
Nautical mile: 6,076 feet. About 15%
longer than a mile.
League: 3 nautical miles.
Bull: A decree or order issued by the
Pope.

7. PapalPapal Bull Inter CaeteraBull Inter Caetera
by Pope Alexander VIby Pope Alexander VI
All lands west of a meridian 100 leagues
west of the Cape Verde Islands would
belong to Spain. ( 345 miles).
All discovered lands east of the line would
belong to Portugal.
All territory currently under Christian rule
would remain untouched.

8. Time to NegotiateTime to Negotiate
King John of Portugal was not happy!
◦ Wanted the line moved west.
◦ Told Spain that since it would go all the way
around the world, it would limit Spanish control
in Asia.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
agreed.
Their treaty countered the papal Bull
◦ Uncontested by Pope Alexander VI
◦ Sanctioned by Pope Julius II in a new Bull in
1506.

9. Terms of the TreatyTerms of the Treaty
Moved the line to a position 370 leagues
west of the Cape Verde Islands (1,277
miles).
Portugal gained a larger portion of South
America: Brazil.
Spain gained control (on paper) of most
of the New World.

10. And we thought we had problems!And we thought we had problems!
No one really knew where the
boundary line was because:
◦ Didn’t know which side of the Cape Verde Islands
they were to measure from, east or west?
(difference of 193 miles).
◦ Was it Cape Verde or Capo Verde on Africa’s
western coast?
Measurement of a league was different in
different countries.
◦ Portuguese maritime leagues were different from
Portuguese land leagues!
◦ Portuguese leagues were different from Spanish,
French, and English leagues!
◦ Old leagues were different from New leagues in
Portugal!

11. After the TreatyAfter the Treaty
Portugal discovers Brazil by
accident in 1500. Cabral
The line wasn’t enforced by
the Spanish so the
Portuguese encroached deep
into South America.
France, England, and the
Netherlands were refused
access.

12. DisputesDisputes
Francis I of France wanted the Pope to
show him “The clause in Adam’s will
excluding his authority from the New
World.”
Initially, the only option left to France,
England, and the Netherlands was piracy.
Later, these countries rejected the Pope’s
authority.
Magellan’s voyage around the globe
spurred a new problem: Where should the
line be on the other side of the world?

13. A view of the TreatiesA view of the Treaties

14. QUESTIONSQUESTIONS
????????????????