On June 7, 1494, the countries of Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, so named for the Spanish city it was created in. The treaty divided the New World of the newly discovered Americas between the two governments.
The treaty only recognized any prior claims by "Christian kings", which meant that the local indigenous people were forced under their rule. The colonization of these areas would prove to be devastating for many of these tribes and cultures.
The treaty was followed with little conflict, and the remnants of the Spanish and Portugese influence can still be seen today in the primary languages of many Central and South American countries.
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