The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494, remains a key event in European maritime history, marking a major milestone in the race to explore and conquer new territories.
This agreement between Spain and Portugal was a necessary response to the challenges croissants linked to the discovery and colonization of distant regions, paving the way for the establishment of the first colonial empires.
The Treaty of Tordesillas: a decisive agreement in European exploration for Portugal and Spain
At the heart of the treaty was the determination of the dividing line between the Spanish and Portuguese domains, establishing a virtual frontier that demarcated the areas of influence of the two Iberian powers in the New World and beyond. This line, located 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, was conceived as a solution to resolve emerging territorial disputes between the two nations and clarify their respective claims to discovered and undiscovered lands.
The strategic importance of this delimitation cannot be underestimated. For Spain, it meant access to new trade routes to Asia, paving the way for exploration of the rich territories of the New World. For Portugal, it meant vital control over the sea route to India, a major economic asset at a time when the trade in spices and luxury goods was extremely lucrative.
However, despite the apparent clarity of this agreement, tensions remained, particularly around the question of the Moluccas. This region, famous for its spices, was claimed by both Spain and Portugal, leading to protracted conflicts and disputes over the sovereignty of these territories.
The Treaty of Tordesillas also provoked international reactions, calling into question the legitimacy of the Iberian monopoly on discoveries and conquests. Nations such as France, England and the United Provinces challenged the authority of the Iberian powers, claiming that papal decisions were not binding and that the treaty was simply a bilateral agreement between two nations.
This controversy raised fundamental questions about maritime law and territorial sovereignty, laying the foundations for a debate that would endure for centuries. Proponents of the exclusivity of maritime domains asserted the principle of "mare clausum", supporting the right of nations to control the surrounding seas, while defenders of the freedom of the seas, represented by thinkers like Hugo Grotiushave argued in favor of the "mare liberum" principle, asserting that the oceans should be considered as common property for all mankind.
Ultimately, the Treaty of Tordesillas marked the beginning of an era of discovery and exploration that shaped the modern world. It laid the foundations for the Spanish and Portuguese colonial empires, while setting the stage for rivalry between the great European powers for control of the oceans and distant lands.
The Treaty of Tordesillas remains a powerful symbol of the age of discovery and imperial competition that characterized the modern era. It embodies the ambitions and rivalries of European nations at a time when the world was still largely unexplored, marking the beginning of a new era in human history.
