Age of Exploration: From Treaty of Tordesillas to the Impact of New Discoveries

Treaty of Tordesillas

In 1493, the Pope divided all newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal along a line in the Atlantic Ocean. However, the Spanish and Portuguese disagreed about the position of the line. In 1494, they met at Tordesillas, where they agreed on the line of longitude 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. This agreement was called the Treaty of Tordesillas. However, most other European countries ignored the treaty.

Around the World

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese sailor who asked King Manuel I of Portugal to finance a westward voyage to Asia. When the King refused, Magellan turned to the Spanish Monarchs, who agreed to finance the expedition. In 1519, Magellan set sail. He was killed in a battle with a native king in the Philippines in 1522. Sebastian Elcano continued the voyage westward, reaching Spain in 1522. Only 18 men and one ship returned from the expedition, but they were the first people to circumnavigate the globe.

Spanish Indies

Spain's new territories in America were called the Indies and were many times larger than Spain itself. In 1519, King Charles I of Spain created the Council of the Indies to govern these territories. The Indies were divided into two viceroyalties: New Spain and Peru. Each viceroyalty was governed by a viceroy, a nobleman appointed by the King of Spain. Viceroys held significant power and could make decisions without consulting the King. The viceroyalties were governed by Spanish law, as well as special laws created specifically for the Indies.

Economy of the Indies

There were two main industries in the Spanish Indies: mining and agriculture. The mines produced vast quantities of silver and gold. Agricultural land was divided into large estates (haciendas) owned by Spanish colonists. The Indies exported these raw materials, along with other agricultural products, through the Spanish port of Seville.

Consequences of the Discoveries

Economic Changes

The influx of gold and silver from the Americas made Europe, particularly Spain, much richer. This wealth fueled economic growth and trade. Crops from around the world were brought to Europe, while European crops, such as wheat and grapes, were planted in the Americas. This exchange of plants, animals, and goods between the Old World and the New World is known as the Columbian Exchange.

Social Changes

Europeans brought diseases like smallpox and influenza to the Americas. These diseases had a devastating impact on the native populations, leading to widespread death and a significant decline in the indigenous workforce. To meet the labor shortage on plantations and in mines, Europeans began transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas, initiating the horrific transatlantic slave trade. Many Europeans also emigrated to the Americas, seeking new opportunities and land.

Cultural Changes

Christian missionaries traveled throughout the Spanish Empire, working to convert native populations to Catholicism. As a result, the majority of the people in the Spanish Empire became Catholic, and some people in Asia also converted to Christianity. The people in the Americas learned new languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English. The exchange of ideas, languages, and cultural practices between Europe and the Americas had a profound and lasting impact on both societies.