Doctrine of discovery

{
  "id": "MLC-T-LAW-005334",
  "term": "Doctrine of discovery",
  "field": "Law",
  "definition": "A principle of international law used by European colonial powers to legitimize their claims to lands inhabited by indigenous peoples. It asserted that European nations gained sovereign title over newly discovered lands, while indigenous inhabitants retained only a right of occupancy. This doctrine has been widely criticized for its historical impact on indigenous rights and sovereignty.",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/law/doctrine-of-discovery/"
}