The Treaty of Response area was an agreement between Spain and Portugal that established the Line of Response area. This line divided the region and led to the colonization of South America.
was signed in 1494 and was aimed at preventing conflicts between Spain and Portugal over newly discovered lands. The treaty divided the newly discovered lands in the Americas by establishing a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands as the dividing line. Lands to the east of the line were to belong to Portugal, while lands to the west belonged to Spain. This treaty ultimately helped shape the colonial territories of both nations in South America.
