The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50 degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a ?

north-south direction. This line, known as the Treaty of Tordesillas, was established in 1494 to prevent conflict between the two European powers over their newly discovered territories in the Americas. Spain was granted control over lands to the west of the line, while Portugal was given control over lands to the east. This division had a lasting impact on the colonization and development of the New World by these two countries.