4 - Rethinking Land Ownership in the Portuguese Empire: the case of the villages of Goa

Institutions and the legal framework surrounding European colonialism have been the subject of frequent debate, often overlooking how the concept of land ownership was challenged by local populations. The aim of this paper is to analyze the response of the communities of Goa (India) to the Portuguese expansion, as well as to the prevailing notion that land belonged to the King by virtue of conquest rights. As one of the few spaces in Asia where Europeans developed a territorial presence in the 16^th and 17^th centuries, Goa is an interesting and unique case study. Thus, this paper demonstrates that parallel processes concerning land tenure were unfolding in this region of the Portuguese Empire. On one hand, the establishment of colonial administrative structures required a negotiated approach, incorporating native norms and practices, including the involvement of local elites. On the other hand, the villages of Goa inherited a centuries-old social structure that self-regulated everyday issues and land relations, leading them to engage in debates with Portuguese authorities regarding land ownership. The discussion will demonstrate how land ownership was perceived and question the limits of empire, along with its impact on land relations.