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Treaty of Tordesillas Facts & Worksheets

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The Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement between Spain and Portugal. It aimed at settling conflicts over newly explored lands by Christopher Columbus and other late voyagers during the 15th Century (the Age of Exploration). Keep reading for the fact file below or download the comprehensive worksheet pack which can be utilised within the classroom or home environment.

  • After reports of Columbus’s discoveries had reached the Spanish rulers, Ferdinand II and Isabella I, in 1493, the monarchs enlisted papal support for their claims to the New World. The Spanish-born pope, Alexander VI, issued bulls to set up a line of demarcation from pole to pole, 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands.
  • King John II of Portugal was displeased because Portugal’s rights in the New World were inadequately acknowledged, in that they would have insufficient space at sea for their African voyages.
  • Meeting at Tordesillas, a city in northwestern Spain, Spanish and Portuguese representatives reaffirmed the papal division, but the line itself was moved to 370 leagues (1,185 miles) west of the Cape Verde Islands, or about 46°30′ W of Greenwich. All lands east of that were claimed by Portugal. All lands west of that line were claimed by Spain.
  • The governments of Spain and Portugal agreed to the Treaty of Tordesillas on June 7, 1494.
  • The Treaty of Tordesillas neatly divided the New World between the two powerful monarchies.
  • Spain and Portugal followed the treaty without major conflict and the results remain throughout the Americas today. Most Latin American nations are Spanish-speaking countries, except in Brazil. Portuguese is the leading official language in Brazil. The new boundary enabled Portugal’s Pedro Álvares Cabral to claim the coast of Brazil in 1500.
  • The British, French, Russian, and other European superpowers did not claim parts of the Americas for years after the Treaty of Tordesillas.
  • The treaty stipulated that neither power was to occupy any territory already in the hands of a Christian ruler. Hence, it completely unheeded the people already living in established communities in the Americas.

Treaty of Tordesillas Worksheets

This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use Treaty of Tordesillas Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about The Treaty of Tordesillas which was an agreement between Spain and Portugal. It aimed at settling conflicts over newly explored lands by Christopher Columbus and other late voyagers during the 15th Century

Download includes the following worksheets:

  • Treaty of Tordesillas Facts
  • Modified True or False
  • Treaty of Tordesillas Word Search
  • Trace the Demarcation Line
  • Spanish and Portuguese Empire
  • What Now?
  • Who am I?
  • What If…
  • In My Opinion…
  • The Outcome
  • A Famous Explorer

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Link will appear as Treaty of Tordesillas Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 3, 2017

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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