Final answer:
The Line of Demarcation, also known as the Treaty of Tordesillas, divided the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal. The treaty established a line that determined which territories belonged to each country. This agreement had a significant impact on the Age of Exploration and influenced the colonial territories and global trade system.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Line of Demarcation, also known as the Treaty of Tordesillas, was an agreement signed in 1494 between Spain and Portugal to divide the newly discovered lands outside of Europe. The treaty established a line that ran north to south through the Atlantic Ocean, dividing the world into two zones of influence. All land to the west of the line would belong to Spain, while all land to the east would belong to Portugal.
This agreement was made to avoid conflicts between the two countries over their claims to the newly discovered territories. It aimed to preserve order and divide the world's trade routes into spheres of influence. The treaty granted Portugal the rights to explore and trade in Africa and Asia, while Spain gained control over the Americas to build its empire.
The Line of Demarcation had a significant impact on the Age of Exploration, shaping the colonial territories of Spain and Portugal and influencing the development of the global trade system. It also had political, economic, and scientific implications, as it established the concept of dividing the world for colonial purposes.