territorio

Territorio is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote a defined geographic area under the jurisdiction of a government, ruler, or organization. In political and legal contexts, a territory is the space in which a state's sovereignty is exercised, including land and adjacent waters. The concept emphasizes both space and authority, distinguishing the physical extent from the abstract notion of sovereignty, though in practice sovereignty is exercised within a territory.

Territories can take different forms: a sovereign state's national territory, autonomous or semi-autonomous regions within a state, external or dependent territories under another jurisdiction, and disputed territories where sovereignty is contested. Enclaves and exclaves are territorial configurations where portions of a state's territory are separated from the main area by foreign lands.

Boundaries are defined by legal instruments such as constitutions, treaties, or unilateral declarations and may follow natural features or straight lines. Delimitation is the process of fixing boundaries between jurisdictions, while demarcation applies markers or signs on the ground. Territorial administration is organized through multiple levels, from national to regional and municipal governments, and involves mapping, land registries, and property rights.

Historically, the concept of territory evolved with the emergence of centralized states, colonial expansion, and later decolonization. International law recognizes the right of states to territorial integrity, while disputes may be resolved by negotiation, adjudication, or third-party mechanisms. The study of territory intersects geography, law, political science, and history.