<P> After Columbus ' first trips , competing Spanish and Portuguese claims to new territories and sea routes were solved with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 , which divided the world outside of Europe in two areas of trade an exploration , between the Iberian kingdoms of Castile and Portugal along a north - south meridian , 370 leagues west of Cape Verde . According to this international agreement , the larger part of the Americas and the Pacific Ocean were open to Spanish exploration and colonization , while Africa , the Indian Ocean and most of Asia were assigned to Portugal . </P>
<P> After Columbus ' first trips , competing Spanish and Portuguese claims to new territories and sea routes were solved with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 , which divided the world outside of Europe in two areas of trade an exploration , between the Iberian kingdoms of Castile and Portugal along a north - south meridian , 370 leagues west of Cape Verde . According to this international agreement , the larger part of the Americas and the Pacific Ocean were open to Spanish exploration and colonization , while Africa , the Indian Ocean and most of Asia were assigned to Portugal . </P>
what countries or areas did portugal contact colonize or establish posts in
what countries or areas did portugal contact colonize or establish posts in
Africa , the Indian Ocean and most of Asia were assigned to Portugal .
Africa , the Indian Ocean and most of Asia were assigned to Portugal .