Spain and Portugal claimed territory in the Americas in order to expand their empires and gain wealth through the exploitation of natural resources and the establishment of colonies for trade and commerce.
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Spain and Portugal’s claims on American territories were motivated by a combination of factors that varied by region. Due to the economic and religious incentives, they aimed to expand their empires and gain wealth through the exploration of natural resources.
Initially, both countries were eager to gain control over lucrative trade routes with Asia. However, Columbus’ voyages to the New World in 1492 shifted the focus towards colonizing and exploiting the newfound territories. Spain sought to establish a strong presence, and established a system of colonies throughout Mexico, Central, and South America. Portugal, on the other hand, focused on Brazil, where they introduced sugar cultivation and developed a profitable slave trade.
The exploitation of natural resources, such as gold, silver, and rubber, was a significant factor in their expansion. In addition, the colonies provided a source of raw materials for the home countries. Fascinated explorers and missionaries played a role in the claims as well. Both countries sought to spread Christianity to the New World, and conversion and conquest went hand in hand.
As historian James Muldoon states, “The Spanish and Portuguese empires of the sixteenth century grew as a result of their willingness to explore and utilize discoveries made in the Americas.”
Several interesting facts surround Spain and Portugal’s claims on American territories. Here are a few examples:
- Columbus named the Caribbean islands and referred to the inhabitants as “Indians” due to his mistaken belief that he had reached the East Indies.
- The treaty of Tordesillas, signed by Spain and Portugal in 1494, divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two countries, which contributed to the eventual division of South America between Spanish and Portuguese speakers.
- The establishment of colonies in the Americas changed European diets. New World crops such as potatoes, corn, and tobacco changed the eating habits of Europeans, while New World foods such as wheat, rice, and cows changed the eating habits of people in the Americas.
- The encomienda system, developed in the Spanish colonies, legalized the use of Native Americans as laborers and led to widespread abuse and exploitation.
- The largest empire in history was the Spanish empire in the Americas, with territories stretching from modern-day California all the way to Argentina.
- Portugal’s claim on Brazil led to the establishment of the largest slave port in the Americas, with over 3.5 million slaves brought to Brazil between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Table:
| Country | Regions of Control |
|---|---|
| Spain | Mexico, Central America, South America, parts of modern-day US |
| Portugal | Brazil, parts of modern-day Suriname and Guyana |
Further responses to your query
Their goals were to expand Catholicism and to gain a commercial advantage over Portugal. To those ends, Ferdinand and Isabella sponsored extensive Atlantic exploration.
During the 15th century, Portugal built increasingly large fleets of ships and began to explore the world beyond Europe, sending explorers to Africa and Asia. Castile followed suit decades later. Following the first Spanish voyage of Christopher Columbus to the Caribbean in 1492, both states began acquiring territory in the New World.
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The conflict over the division of land in the New World between Portugal and Spain was resolved by the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the territories, giving Portugal explicit rights to explore Brazil and Africa while Spain was given the vast majority of the New World. The treaty was later sanctioned by the Pope, but it was not respected by non-Christian powers, and after subsequent treaties, the matter was finally resolved in the Treaty of San Ildefonso. However, the rest of the colonial world was unaffected by these agreements.
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Beside above, How did Spain and Portugal divide the lands in America? As an answer to this: Spain and Portugal divided the New World by drawing a north-to-south line of demarcation in the Atlantic Ocean, about 100 leagues (555 kilometers or 345 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands, off the coast of northwestern Africa and then controlled by Portugal.
Just so, How did Spain and Portugal protect their claims in the Americas?
In reply to that: The 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas neatly divided the "New World" into land, resources, and people claimed by Spain and Portugal.
Why did Spain and Portugal divide the world?
The response is: The Treaty of Tordesillas, June 7, 1494. On June 7, 1494, Spain and Portugal agreed to fix the boundary between their respective domains along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands. They established two areas in which they would have a monopoly over discovery, navigation, and trade.
Consequently, Who gave Portugal a claim to the Americas? As an answer to this: Before the treaty, pope Alexander VI created a demarcation line: Spain had rights to newly discovered lands to the West of the line, while Portugal had rights to the East. The treaty altered the location of the demarcation line, which allowed Portugal to claim the coast of Brazil, discovered by Pedro Álvares Cabral.
Why did Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas? Response will be: On June 7, 1494, the governmentsof Spain and Portugal agreed to the Treaty of Tordesillas, named for the city in Spain in which it was created. The Treatyof Tordesillasneatly divided the “New World” of the Americas between the two superpowers.
Simply so, Why did Spanish explorers go to America?
Answer to this: Although Portugal opened the door to exploration of the Atlantic World, Spanish explorers quickly made inroads into the Americas. Spurred by Christopher Columbus’s glowing reports of the riches to be found in the New World, throngs of Spanish conquistadors set off to find and conquer new lands.
How did Spain gain power in the New World?
The Spanish gained an early foothold in the colonies, quickly becoming the most powerful European power in the New World. In the European race to colonial dominance, the Treaty of Tordesillas legitimized Spain’s holdings in the New World, indicating Spanish primacy over Portugal.
Additionally, Why did Spain and Portugal adhere to the Lisbon Treaty? Answer to this: Spain and Portugal adheredto the treaty without major conflict between the two, although the line of demarcation was moved an additional 270 leagues(about 1500 kilometers or 932 miles) farther west in 1506, which enabled Portugal to claim the eastern coast of what is now Brazil.
People also ask, Why did Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Tordesillas? On June 7, 1494, the governmentsof Spain and Portugal agreed to the Treaty of Tordesillas, named for the city in Spain in which it was created. The Treatyof Tordesillasneatly divided the “New World” of the Americas between the two superpowers.
Why did Portugal acquire Brazil? As an answer to this: But when the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the world between Portugal and Spain along a north-south line 1,770 kilometers (1,100 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands, Portugal unwittingly acquired the land that was to become known as Brazil.
Where did the Spanish Empire expand?
The Spanish Empire would expand across the Caribbean Islands, half of South America, almost all of Central America and most of North America.
Additionally, Why did Spanish explorers go to America?
As a response to this: Although Portugal opened the door to exploration of the Atlantic World, Spanish explorers quickly made inroads into the Americas. Spurred by Christopher Columbus’s glowing reports of the riches to be found in the New World, throngs of Spanish conquistadors set off to find and conquer new lands.