The 1493 Line of Demarcation was an imaginary line drawn by Pope Alexander VI in 1493 to divide the newly discovered lands outside of Europe between Spain and Portugal.
Related terms
Treaty of Tordesillas: An agreement signed in 1494 that moved the Line of Demarcation slightly to the west, giving Portugal more territory in present-day Brazil.
Age of Exploration: Refers to a period in history when European countries sent explorers to discover new lands and establish colonies around the world.
Colonization: The process by which a country establishes settlements or colonies in a foreign land, exerting political and economic control over it.