1494

1494 was a significant year in late medieval Europe and the early modern era, marked by major diplomatic and military developments that would influence global power dynamics for decades. It occurred during a period of rising maritime exploration and shifting alliances, setting the stage for later colonial competition and continental conflicts.

One of the defining events of 1494 was the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on June 7 and mediated by Pope Alexander VI. The treaty divided non-European territories outside Europe along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands, granting Spain and Portugal separate spheres of exploration and colonization. While aimed at reducing conflict between the Iberian powers, the agreement did not establish an enduring global order and was later challenged as other European states intensified overseas activity.

In the Italian peninsula, Charles VIII of France launched an invasion of the Kingdom of Naples, initiating the First Italian War. Crossing the Alps with a considerable army, he moved into southern Italy and began a campaign that destabilized the region and drew in other European powers. The invasion would lead to a protracted sequence of conflicts known as the Italian Wars, reshaping alliances and power relations in Italy and beyond.

Together, these developments in 1494 reflect a broader transition from medieval political structures toward early modern statecraft and global exploration. The treaty helped formalize European reconnaissance and colonization efforts, while the French expedition in Italy signaled the rising willingness of kingdoms to project power far beyond their continental borders.