SPATIAL RELATIONS OF SOCIAL FORMS 161

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The dominion over the land is, in relation to the dominion
over people, of a secondary importance. The dominion
over land is, however, of immediate importance if in the
form of ownership or otherwise it means the right to the
products of its soil. It is only when confusing the two
meanings of the term dominion that the fact of the fundamental
 sociological nature of the concept becomes obscured.!


The Function of Empty Space
Another spatial expression of specific sociological formations
 is the use of empty space for the purpose of expressing
 neutrality. Primitive peoples often laid waste a
small strip of land between their territories and agreed that
neither of the two groups was to enter that borderland.
They relinquished the advantages which such an occupation
 would have in the case of an offensive for the advantages
 which accrued from the non-occupation by the opponent
 for their own defensive. The empty strip between
them was the spatial expression of a relationship of armed
peace, which might be formulated in the words: If you do
not harm me, I shall not harm you.
The neutrality of empty space obtains a different significance
 if, instead of merely separating the groups, it is
used for positive services. Its function can be, not only to
separate, but also to unite the groups. Meetings of individuals
 which cannot take place on the territory of either
group may be arranged to take place in a neutral area.
The neutral area in primitive times is the uninhabited region
 between the territories occupied by the tribes. It is
the place where the trading is done and where individuals
potentially at war meet under conditions of peace. And the
existence of that unoccupied empty space is the most char-Ll

 Soz., pp. 691-96.