Colonial land grants were legal documents issued by colonial governments that allocated parcels of land to individuals or groups. These grants were often used to encourage settlement and development in newly acquired territories. They typically outlined the size of the land, its location, and any conditions that the grantee had to fulfill, such as building a home or cultivating crops. In many cases, colonial land grants were given to wealthy individuals, such as landowners or investors, who could afford to develop the land. This practice sometimes led to conflicts with indigenous peoples, as the land was often taken from them without consent.