Why did europeans in the fifteenth century have no problem dividing the globe?

Answer 1

In the fifteenth century, Europeans had no problem dividing the globe largely due to their expanding maritime exploration and the desire for new trade routes and resources. The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, brokered by the Pope, exemplified this mindset by allocating territories between Spain and Portugal, reflecting a sense of divine right and national competition. Additionally, the era's growing confidence in European superiority, fueled by advances in navigation and military technology, contributed to the belief that they could claim and control distant lands. This combination of ambition, religious justification, and perceived entitlement made the division of the globe seem both natural and necessary to European powers.