Why do Brazilians speak Portuguese instead of Spanish?

Do you know why Brazil, unlike the rest of South America (that speaks Spanish), has Portuguese has its mother language?

If you are watching the series The Borgias on Showtime, you are watching this history in the making.

When I recently visited Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, I toured the Columbus house museum where we were reminded of how Brazil became Portuguese instead of Spanish speaking.

At the time of Columbus’ (accidental) discovery of the “New World”, Rodrigo Borgia was Pope Alexander the VI (originally from Spain). In 1493, in order to enhance his influence with Spain and increase his net worth, the Pope took a pen, drew a line on a map, and divided the world. Spain was given everything west of line-370- leagues-west of Azores; and Portugal was awarded everything to the east. Hence, Spain got the “New World” (Americas) with the exception of Brazil (too far east) and Portugal got India, Africa, and the (east) Indies. Didn’t someone tell them there were already people living there?

And, that is why Brazilians speak Portuguese-- Brazil was given to Portugal by the (notoriously corrupt) Pope.