The Sharing of Discovered Lands was a central process in the political and religious organisation of overseas exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries. These chapters present the instruments and decisions that defined borders, legitimised conquests and shaped the western colonial map.
Presents the origin and geographical logic of the imaginary line drawn to divide the areas of influence between Portugal and Castile, the methods of calculation, the cartographic controversies and the immediate impacts on navigation and Atlantic exploration.
Analyses the diplomatic agreement that formalised the proposed division: political context, main terms, negotiations between the crowns, and practical consequences for navigation, colonisation, and territorial disputes.
Examines the papal bulls as instruments of religious and political legitimacy: the pontiff’s motivations, the content of the bulls, and their role in reinforcing Iberian claims over the newly discovered lands.
Addresses the Church’s subsequent confirmations of Portuguese expansion — decrees, concordats, and ratifications — and how these acts consolidated (or contested) Portuguese rights over overseas territories.
Throughout these texts, we will relate documents, geopolitical interests, and practical impacts on populations, navigation, and the formation of colonial empires.
Attempts to define the meridian of the Treaty of Tordesillas. 1. The context and structure of the Treaty. The Treaty of Tordesillas stipulated that the demarcation of the 370 leagues west of Cape Verde would be carried out by pilots, astrologers and sailors from both parties. Within ten months of […]
The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided overseas territories. 1. Context King John II protested to the Roman Curia and neighbouring kings who benefited from the bulls issued by Alexander VI. He sent agents to Spain to propose a new dividing line for the overseas territories that was less harmful than […]
The bulls of Alexander VI and the dispute between Spain and Portugal over the new lands (1493). This text explains the papal bulls issued by Alexander VI in 1493, particularly Inter caetera, Eximie devotionis and Dudum siquidem, and their influence on the dispute between Spain and Portugal over the newly […]
1 — Ratifications of Portuguese expansion by the Holy See 1. Context and authority of the Holy See In the Middle Ages and early Modern Age, the Holy See occupied a position superior to other Christian nations. As a supranational authority, its moral influence was recognised and reaffirmed — including […]
Boa Viagem Beach is Recife’s main urban beach, with an extensive coastline, kiosks, hotels and reefs that form natural pools at low tide. This
5-day itinerary — Beaches of Pernambuco Explore the coast of Pernambuco on a 5-day itinerary that combines unmissable beaches, lush landscapes and
Hereditary captaincies created between 1534 and 1536 Implementing the plan announced to Martim Afonso de Sousa in 1532, King João III created,
To populate the deserted Atlantic Ocean islands discovered in the 15th century, such as Madeira, Porto Santo, the Azores, Cape Verde and São Tomé,
Context and controversy Several authors have debated the similarities and differences between the Hereditary Captaincies and medieval feudalism,
Hereditary Captaincies in the 16th Century: Background to their Creation Despite being a small country with limited resources, Portugal distinguished
The return of Martim Afonso de Sousa to Portugal A brief account of Martim Afonso’s return to Portugal after completing his work in São
Martim Afonso’s voyage to Brazil (1530–1532) and Pero Lopes’ return to Portugal. The expedition led by Martim Afonso de Sousa to Brazil
Olinda was the birthplace of Franciscanism in Portuguese America, as well as being the starting point for the expansion of convents in
Martim Afonso de Sousa’s voyage to Brazil was a maritime expedition involving military, exploratory and colonising activities along the coast
Located a few kilometres between Pipa and Baía Formosa, Sibaúma is a pristine coastal village in Rio Grande do Norte. It is the perfect destination
Praia dos Carneiros is a photogenic beach located about an hour from Recife. Just a few kilometres from Recife, the beach of Praia dos Carneiros in
Discover the best beaches in the northeast for relaxation, with three perfect getaways offering stunning scenery, high-end accommodation and
To understand frevo is to reconstruct the history of Recife’s working classes and the city’s urban development between the late 19th and
According to many scholars, music and dance have been part of Brazilian culture since its inception, providing an outlet for the tensions arising
The expedition of Martim Afonso de Sousa: towards the colonisation of Brazil. Martim Afonso de Sousa came from one of the most notable families in
The colonising expedition led by Martim Afonso de Sousa and sent by the King of Portugal in 1530 was the first official attempt at permanently
From the start of the 16th century until its midpoint, the Brazilian coast saw frequent passages and incursions by Spanish navigators, either en
European interest in and conflict over Brazilwood in the 16th and 17th centuries. This chapter examines the exploitation and trade of Brazilwood
The Portuguese expedition to Brazil in 1503: discoveries, controversies and developments. Several printed and handwritten sources from the early
