Final answer:
The concept of property and the laws surrounding it have evolved over time, with significant contributions from ancient laws such as the Code of Hammurabi and thinkers like John Locke. Ronald Coase and Proudhon offered modern perspectives on property rights, while American colonialists applied Locke's ideas to form their understanding of property.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention and enforcement of laws around the concept of property are deeply rooted in history and socio-economic developments. Initially, property concepts were less pronounced in hunter-gatherer societies but became more significant in urbanized societies such as early Mesopotamia, with its cities and slavery system. Throughout history, figures like the Babylonian King Hammurabi in 1754 BC and John Locke with his theories on property and labor have contributed to our understanding of property rights. In modern economic theory, Ronald Coase provided insights on how better-defined property rights could balance economic activity with environmental concerns. Proudhon controversially criticized the idea of property, advocating for local cooperatives and self-empowerment of workers. American colonial views on property were influenced by Locke, valuing the principle that those who invest labor into common resources are entitled to property, leading to the eventual creation of governments to protect these rights.