How did Spain benefit from the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas?

Question

The treaty gave Spain exclusive access to the Americas.
The treaty split the Americas equally between Spain and Portugal.
The treaty let Portugal settle most of the Americas.
The treaty kept Portugal out of most of the Americas.

Answer 1

The correct statement regarding how Spain benefited from the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas is:

The treaty gave Spain exclusive access to the Americas.

The Treaty of Tordesillas, brokered by the Pope, divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal along a meridian in the Atlantic Ocean. Spain gained the majority of the lands in the Americas, allowing it to claim and exploit vast territories, while Portugal was given access primarily to parts of Africa and Asia, which limited its presence in the Americas.