Pope Alexander VI, Inter Caetera (May 4, 1493)

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Pope Alexander VI, Inter Caetera (May 4, 1493)
The article is about the establishment of colonies across the globe and mainly in Africa. This was a time when Spain and Portugal were fighting for territory across the vast lands of Africa and other parts of the world. They set out on voyages to go and discover mainland and islands that had not yet been discovered. The Inter Caetera is a papal bull that was issued by Pope Alexander VI in the year 1493. In the works the catholic majesties would be issues with the sovereignty of Castile over all the lands and their resources that were on the west and the south of the pole to pole demarcation of 100 leagues (Pope Alexander VI, Inter Caetera (May 4, 1493)). The papal bull, was a document that was giving the catholic majesties power to spread the gospel across the west and the south of the line of 100 leagues. It would give the power to not only spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also over the resources such as the minerals and even aspects associated with the trade. The pope also asserted that the powers were not to be challenged by anyone regardless of their powers of even status. In the same breath, Columbus would be given as the best choice for the voyages across the unexplored lands and given the chance to spread Christianity (Pope Alexander VI, Inter Caetera (May 4, 1493)). Columbus was a great explorer and it is understandable that the pope would recommend him to lead the expedition across the lands in search of more resources and convert Christians.
The primary sources were produced by the pope Alexander VI and were done in the year 1493. The document which is referred to as the Inter Caetera was a papal bull and would offer the Catholic Majesties over the sovereigns of Isabella and Ferdinand, for all the lands that were on the west and the south of the line of pole to pole line. This was sovereignty over all the lands on the demarcated line to the west and south. The papal bull, was produced relative to the disputes that were now ensuing between the Spanish explorers and the Portuguese. Where the Portuguese would claim that they had discovered land that Columbus had already discovered. At the time, Columbus believed that he reached Asia, while the Portuguese claimed that they had already been allocated the lands by the previous pope (Pope Alexander VI, Inter Caetera (May 4, 1493)). The Spanish on the other hand claimed that the lands that had been offered to the Portuguese were not inclusive of the lands in question. It was thus the duty of the Pope Alexander VI to resolve the dispute and declare the new standing which would now be followed between the Spanish explorers and the Portuguese without fail. It is important to note that, at the time of the events the church played a major role in governance across Europe. As such, the pope in this case was not just a spectator but also took part in the decision making. He was responsible for the law and the governance of the lands especially where voyages were concerned...