1494: From the Discovery of Christopher Columbus to the Treaty of Tordesillas (Collection)

The fascinating document collection 1494: From the Discovery of Christopher Columbus to the Treaty of Tordesillas brings together seven key sources on the historical development of the famous Treaty of Tordesillas. The groundbreaking contract was concluded on June 7, 1494 between the Kingdom of Castile under the reign of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand and the Kingdom of Portugal under the rule of John II and defined their territories in the Atlantic. Everything west of the meridian border line defined here was granted to Castile, everything east of it to the Portuguese crown. The collection features both the Portuguese and Castilian versions of the treaty's ratification deed with the respective signatures of the monarchs. They are accompanied by three letters by Christopher Columbus, in which he reports on his discoveries and which provide four of the first ever European depictions of the New World, as well as letters by John II on the world-changing negotiations.