what was the purpose of the treaty of tordesillas signed by portugal and spain?

The purpose of the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494, between Portugal and Spain was to resolve territorial disputes over newly discovered lands following Christopher Columbus's voyages. The treaty established a line of demarcation running from pole to pole, about 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, dividing the world outside Europe between the two powers. Spain was granted rights to all lands to the west of this line, while Portugal was given rights to the lands to the east. This arrangement was intended to avoid conflicts between Spain and Portugal in their exploration and colonization efforts and was influenced by earlier papal bulls favoring Spain. The treaty also provided Spain a religious justification for its colonization, placing indigenous peoples under Spanish and papal authority. Although the treaty aimed to prevent conflict, its vague terms led to future disputes, particularly regarding Brazil's location, which fell within the Portuguese sphere.