The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494, was significant for European exploration as it divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain. With the backing of Pope Alexander VI, the treaty established a meridian line in the Atlantic Ocean, granting Spain control of territories to the west and Portugal those to the east. This division influenced the course of exploration, colonization, and trade in the Americas and Asia, leading to the dominant maritime empires of the 15th and 16th centuries. It also set the stage for future conflicts over territorial claims.