The great navigations of the 15th century marked a rupture in the European conception of the world and the Atlantic Ocean. The voyages of explorers like Bartolomeu Dias, who rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opened up new possibilities for reaching the East via the south. This achievement indirectly influenced Portugal to concentrate its efforts on this route, while Castile invested in westward exploration. In 1492, Christopher Columbus departed from Palos and, upon returning from his voyage to the Americas, presented the discovery of new lands to the Portuguese king, John II.
Let's take a journey through time and understand how these events directly influenced the formation of our country.
The Inter Caetera Bull
The Inter Caetera Bull was a papal document issued on May 4, 1493, which established the division of newly discovered lands between Portugal and Spain. The bull determined that the "new world" would be divided by a meridian located 100 leagues west of the Cape Verde archipelago. According to the document, "everything west of this meridian would be Spanish, and everything east would be Portuguese" (INTER CAETERA BULL, 1493).
The text of the bull declared: "This bull originates from our having made a donation, concession, and perpetual endowment, both to you (kings) and to your heirs and successors (kings of Castile and León), of all and each of the firm lands and distant and unknown islands, situated towards the west, discovered today or to be discovered in the future, whether discovered by you or by your emissaries designated for this purpose" (INTER CAETERA BULL, 1493, p. 1).
This division aimed to avoid conflicts between the emerging maritime powers of the time. However, the King of Portugal, John II, was not satisfied with the proposed division, as it restricted his ambitions for expansion and control over important trade routes, especially those towards India.
The Treaty of Tordesillas: Redefining Borders
The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7, 1494, transcended a simple territorial delimitation between Portugal and Castile. It reflected the political and economic interests of both countries in full maritime and colonial expansion. The treaty not only defined the control of territories but also encompassed lucrative trade routes, the spread of the Catholic faith, and the assertion of power against other European nations.
In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived in the Antilles — believing he had reached the China Sea. Portugal promptly contested the possession of these new lands, triggering a dispute that culminated in the signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. This agreement divided the world into two hemispheres by means of an imaginary line drawn 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands (TREATY OF TORDESILLAS, 1494, p. 2). The lands to the west of this line would belong to Spain, while those to the east would be Portugal's.
This redefinition of borders met Portuguese interests and avoided a direct conflict between the two nations. The document clearly expresses this intention:
[...] for the sake of peace and concord, and for the preservation of the relationship and love between the aforementioned King of Portugal and the aforementioned King and Queen of Castile, Aragon, etc., this being the desire of Their Highnesses, they, their aforementioned representatives, acting in their names and by virtue of the powers described herein, agreed and concurred that a boundary or straight line should be determined and drawn from north to south, from pole to pole, in the said ocean, from the Arctic to the Antarctic pole (TREATY OF TORDESILLAS, 1494, p. 3).
However, the Treaty of Tordesillas generated many controversies. At the time, there was not sufficient technology to accurately determine the location of the imaginary line. Only at the end of the 17th century did the Dutch develop more precise techniques for measuring longitudes, allowing for a more exact demarcation.
Territorial Expansion and the Treaty of Madrid
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Portuguese explorers and settlers exceeded the limits established by the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), penetrating deep into the interior of South America. This expansion was driven by expeditions known as Entradas and Bandeiras, as well as the development of livestock farming and mining. The process resulted in territorial conflicts with Spain, especially after the founding of the Colony of Sacramento by the Portuguese in 1680, in the south of present-day Uruguay.
To resolve these disputes, in 1750, the Treaty of Madrid was signed between João V of Portugal and Ferdinand VI of Spain, aiming to redefine the colonial borders in South America. The treaty was based on the principles of uti possidetis — "he who possesses in fact, possesses by right" — and natural borders, such as rivers and mountains, to delimit the new territories. In this way, Portugal consolidated its control over vast areas that today make up Brazilian territory, legitimizing the expansions carried out in previous centuries.
The Treaty of Madrid recognized the Portuguese presence in strategic areas, such as the Amazon basin, as expressed in the treaty text itself:
"[...] the crown of Portugal has occupied both banks of the Amazon River, or Marañon, ascending to the mouth of the Javari River [...] the same occurring in the interior of Brazil with the penetration that this crown made to Cuiabá and Mato Grosso" (TREATY OF MADRID, 1750, p. 5).
Although the Treaty of Madrid was annulled in 1761 and later replaced by the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1777, many of the established borders remained, significantly shaping the current territorial configuration of Brazil.
Organization of Brazilian Territory after the Treaty of Madrid
In summary, the Treaty of Madrid was a fundamental milestone in defining the borders of Brazilian territory. It largely anticipated the contours that would come to be consolidated as Brazil's current borders. The practical application of the agreed limits required a massive effort on the part of the Portuguese and Spanish crowns, especially under the leadership of the Marquis of Pombal, who prioritized this delimitation in his territorial policies.
To ensure the effectiveness of the treaty, demarcation expeditions were organized, composed of geographers, mathematicians, priests, cartographic engineers, and military personnel. These expeditions not only had the mission of demarcating the colonial borders, but also of creating a detailed cartographic base of South American territory, providing crucial information for the recognition and consolidation of Brazilian limits.
The social and cultural impact of these demarcation expeditions was significant. Indigenous peoples, who possessed the deepest knowledge about the territories to be demarcated, were exploited both for forced labor and for the occupation of their lands. This led to the disfigurement of their pre-existing cultures and ways of life. This territorial violence was an integral part of the colonial project that aimed to expand Portuguese metropolitan power in the context of European commercial competition.
Conclusion
The Inter Caetera Bull, the Treaty of Tordesillas, and the Treaty of Madrid are more than historical documents; they are key pieces to understanding how the world was divided and how the nations we know today were shaped. By studying these agreements, we better comprehend the complex power relations, economic interests, and ambitions that defined the era of great maritime explorations.
It's fascinating to think about how decisions made over five centuries ago still impact our lives, isn't it? History is full of surprises and unexpected connections that help us understand the present.
References
- ALENCASTRO, Luiz Felipe. The treatment of the living: formation of Brazil in the South Atlantic, 16th and 17th centuries. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2000.
- MONTEIRO, John Manuel. "Territorial Negotiations and Colonial Policies: The Treaty of Tordesillas and Its Developments." História Unisinos, v. 7, n. 1, 2003.
- FERREIRA, João Paulo. The formation of Brazilian territory: The impact of the treaties of Tordesillas and Madrid. São Paulo: Editora História Viva, 2005.
- FRAGOSO, João; GOUVÊA, Maria de Fátima (org). Colonial Brazil. Rio de Janeiro: Civilização Brasileira, 2014.
- HOLANDA, Sérgio Buarque de. General History of Brazilian Civilization. Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo: Difel, 1960