Colonies and Empires continued

After vainly trying to interest the Portuguese, the French and the English in a westward expedition, the Genoese sailor, Christopher Columbus, finally convinced Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain that he could find a new route to the Indies. His return, in October 1492, marked the beginning of the Spanish conquest of the New World, in the name of "Gold, Glory and God" or "Por Rey y Santiago".

By the end of the 15th century, therefore, two European countries had succeeded in establishing colonial empires. In 1494, the Pope had even divided the world into two. The Treaty of Tordesillas drew a line 370 leagues west of the Azores. Land to the west of this line was Spanish, whereas land to the east was Portuguese.

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