The Construction of Discovery: Crónica de Guiné, the Treaty of Tordesillas, and the Foundations of Iberian Colonial Sovereignty (1453–1494)

Abstract

This paper examines the emergence of the concept of “discovery” in the late fifteenth century during the territorial and maritime disputes between Portugal and Castile-Aragon. By examining key texts like Crónica de Guiné, treaties, including Alcáçovas-Toledo (1479-1480) and Tordesillas (1494), and analyzing the evolving role of the papacy, the paper illustrates how Portugal transformed the basis of its claims of rights in the Atlantic from Christian apostolic authority to maritime discovery. This shift, influenced by changing political dynamics in Western Christendom, is reflected in texts like Crónica de Guiné, which was reshaped to align with Portugal’s maritime ambitions. The paper highlights how overseas conflicts, particularly through treaties and foundational texts, helped establish “discovery” as a tool to legitimize European expansion. It contributes to scholarship by reevaluating the legacy of discovery, emphasizing the complexities of European imperial narratives and their long-term impacts on indigenous societies.