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Buying Land Sparked A Global Inquiry
- Simon Winchester bought 123¼ acres in Dutchess County and initially treated it as a private retreat.
- Researching its deeds and geology sparked his inquiry into how ownership evolved globally.
Communal Stewardship Versus Private Ownership
- Indigenous peoples often treated land as communal stewardship rather than individual property.
- European colonists exported private ownership concepts that transformed societies and dispossessed natives.
Enclosures Fueled Industrial Cities And Empire
- Enclosure converted common village lands into privately owned strips to raise agricultural efficiency.
- Enclosures displaced many rural people, fueling urban migration and later colonial expansion.