Territoriality: Concept and Delimitation

Abstract

Territoriality is the primary expression of social power. Its changing functions help us to understand the historical relationship between society and space. Territoriality occurs to varying degrees in numerous social contexts, traversing, for example, the interests of nomadic tribes, the home environment and the work place. However, the purpose of this paper is to briefly trace the evolution of human behaviour within the use and management of terrestrial space. It will walk a path from the natural area catchment of nomadic life, the feudal period, through aspects of agricultural endeavour, the industrial revolution and then to the modern information epoch. The paper concludes with an examination of the recent global environmental emphasis and the relevance of the cadastre to the concept of territoriality.