In the late 15th century, European powers sought new trade routes to Asia to share in its wealth. Pope Alexander VI drew a Line of Demarcation to determine which lands newly discovered west and east would belong to Spain and Portugal, respectively. However, Portugal demanded a change, and the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas moved the line significantly west, allowing for further Spanish and Portuguese exploration. This led Spain to conquer the major Aztec and Inca empires in Central and South America through alliances with enemies, disease, and brutality towards native populations.

1. Section 1: Spain Claims and Empire
*In the 1400s, Italian and Arab merchants
dominated trade with Asia
*Other Europeans wanted the wealth from
Asia so they began looking for a sea route
*Sailors relied on navigators to plan the
course for their ships using maps and
nautical instruments

2. *YOUR EXPLORER NOTES!!!
*In 1493, Pope Alexander VI drew an
imaginary line around the world called the
Line of Demarcation to decide who would
control the new lands that were being
discovered.
*Portugal could claim all non-Christian
lands to the east of the line and Spain could
claim the non-Christian land to the west.
*Portugal’s King John II thought the line
favored Spain. He demanded that Spain
meet with him and change the pope’s
decision.

3. *In June 1494, the two countries agreed to
the Treaty of Tordesillas
*The treaty moved the Line of Demarcation
more than 800 miles farther west.
*This agreement led to more Spanish and
Portugal exploration.
*Spanish explorers were able to conquer
the Aztec and Incas because of the
following:
~Spanish made alliances with Aztec and
Incan enemies
~spread of European diseases killing
millions of Native Americans
~Spanish were brutal towards the Native
Americans under their control

4. *Spain conquered the major Native
American Empires in Central and South
America