1494: How a Family Feud in Medieval Spain Divided the World in Half

1494: How a Family Feud in Medieval Spain Divided the World in Half

by Stephen R. Bown

4.5 (174)

4.5 stars from 174 reviews

1 pages< 1 hr readPublished by D & M PublishersPublished 2011-07-25

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Fans of these authors will like this...

  • Daniel Boorstin
  • Barbara Tuchman
  • Eric Jay Dolin

Fans of these books will like this...

  • 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus
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Perfect for you if...

  • You love history that explains how present-day geopolitics took shape, especially the roots of colonialism and global power.
  • You're fascinated by the personalities behind world-changing decisions: Ferdinand, Isabella, João II, and the Borgia pope himself.
  • You want to understand why the oceans became battlegrounds and how one treaty sparked the fight for free trade that still matters today.

Maybe not for you if...

  • You prefer narratives focused on exploration and discovery rather than the political machinery that enabled them.
  • You expect a tight, fast-paced story: this is a sprawling account of decades of diplomatic intrigue and personal rivalries.
  • You're looking for a deep dive into naval technology or maritime tactics rather than the high-stakes politics that drove them.

About this book

In 1493, Columbus's return to Spain reignited a conflict between Spain's monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella and Portugal's João II over control of the world's oceans. Pope Alexander VI issued a proclamation that led to the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which drew an imaginary line across the Atlantic Ocean dividing the known and unknown world between Spain and Portugal. The treaty elevated both nations to superpower status but also set other European powers on a collision course, becoming the central cause of two centuries of international espionage, piracy, and warfare. It sparked the struggle for "the freedom of the seas"—a debate over whether oceans and global commerce would be controlled by decree or open to all nations. Dutch legal theorist Hugo Grotius championed this idea in the early seventeenth century, laying the foundation for international law. The treaty's origins lay in the personal relationships, rivalries, and hatreds of powerful individuals including Ferdinand and Isabella, Columbus, Magellan, Sir Francis Drake, and the Borgia family. Ultimately, the conflict stemmed from a young woman's determination to defy tradition and choose her own husband.

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#2,783#593,695#1,184,606Oct '18May '25Sep '25Apr '26

Currently #2,783 in the Kindle store — a top-10K bestseller.

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3.5★4.3★5.0★Jun '23Oct '24Mar '25Feb '26RatingReviews

Currently 4.5★ from 174 reviews

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Stephen R. Bown

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