1400's -The Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius
The Doctrine of Discovery and Terra Nullius
The Doctrine of Discovery was the principle used by European colonizers starting in the 15th century to stake a claim to lands beyond the European continent. The doctrine gave them the right to claim land that was deemed vacant for their nation. Land was considered terra nullius (vacant land) if it had not yet been occupied by Christians. Such vacant lands could be defined as “discovered” and, as a result, sovereignty, title, and jurisdiction could be claimed. In doing so, the Doctrine of Discovery invalidated the sovereignty of Indigenous nations and gave Christians the right to subjugate and confiscate the lands of Indigenous Peoples.
