The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 significantly shaped the colonization of the Americas by dividing new territories between Spain and Portugal. This division led to the establishment of Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas, shaping their respective colonial policies and territorial claims. Spain gained most of South America while Portugal focused on Brazil. This agreement limited other European nations' exploration and colonization efforts, thereby influencing the geopolitical landscape of the New World for centuries. The Treaty effectively laid the groundwork for the colonial competition that followed, affecting indigenous populations and European power dynamics.