Texas Surveyors Practice Exam

Which European country was granted control of the Texas area by the Pope in 1493?

1. France

2. Spain

3. Portugal

4. Italy

The correct answer is: Spain

In 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued a series of papal bulls which were part of a formal agreement known as the Treaty of Tordesillas. This treaty aimed to divide newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal, effectively granting Spain control over much of the territories in the Americas, including the area that would eventually become Texas. Pope Alexander VI, being the head of the Catholic Church, played a crucial role in legitimizing the claims of Spain to these newly discovered lands, which included not just Texas, but vast areas of North America. This papal sanction was significant during a time when European powers were competing for global exploration and colonization. This historical context highlights the colonial ambitions of Spain in the New World, and why it was specifically Spain that was granted control over Texas, rather than France, Portugal, or Italy. Each of those countries had their own colonial interests, but in the matter of the Texas region following the Pope's decree, Spain was the primary benefactor.