What was the main purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas?

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, primarily aimed to resolve disputes between Spain and Portugal regarding their respective overseas territories in the newly discovered lands. The agreement established a demarcation line west of the Azores and Cape Verde islands, effectively dividing the non-European world into areas of influence for each nation. Spain received the lands to the west of the line, while Portugal was granted rights to territories to the east.

This treaty was significant in shaping the colonial landscape of the Americas and parts of Africa and Asia, as it institutionalized the competition between these two major maritime powers during the Age of Exploration. Thus, the core purpose of the treaty revolved around territorial division, making this the correct answer. Other options, such as promoting trade or establishing a new religion, were not the primary motivations driving the treaty’s establishment.