Final answer:
European nations such as England, France, and the Netherlands ignored the Treaty of Tordesillas and continued their own explorations, founding colonies and trading posts despite the division between Spain and Portugal sanctioned by the pope.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks how other European nations responded to the Treaty of Tordesillas between Spain and Portugal. The correct main answer is that they ignored the treaty and continued their own explorations. This response was primarily because the Treaty of Tordesillas was an agreement sanctioned by the pope, dividing the New World into two zones of influence for Spain and Portugal. However, nations like England, France, and the Netherlands, which either became Protestant or did not feel bound by papal decisions, did not recognize the authority of the treaty.For example, France's King Francis I famously challenged the treaty, suggesting that the sun shines for all and questioning the papal authority to divide the world. As time went on, and Spain and Portugal's power waned, these nations and others like them took the opportunity to establish their own claims and colonies in the Americas and Asia, expanding their influence and trade networks.