The Reformation in Europe

The treaty was called the Treaty of Torre de Cías. The meridian proposed by the treaty essentially tells us the origin of why Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking nation of South America. Habsburg power now controlled much of Central Europe, the Netherlands and Spain. Both Spain and the Habsburgs were loyally Roman Catholic but a new challenge to Roman Catholicism was emerging in Europe. Martin Luther's publication instigated a backlash against the practices of the Roman Catholic Church like never before.