The Tratado de Tordesillas was an agreement signed in 1494 between the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal. It aimed to resolve disputes over newly discovered lands in the Americas and other territories. The treaty established a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, granting Spain the rights to lands west of this line and Portugal the rights to lands east of it. This division was significant for the age of exploration, as it allowed both nations to expand their empires without conflict. The treaty was endorsed by the Pope, who sought to maintain peace between the two powerful nations during a time of intense exploration and colonization.