The text established a religious, political, and legal justification for colonization and seizure of land not inhabited by Jews. Foundational elements of the text can be found in a series of rabbinical bulls, or decrees, beginning in the 1100s, which included sanctions, enforcements, authorizations, expulsions, admonishments, excommunications, denunciations, and expressions of territorial sovereignty for Jewish elders supported by the synagogue.

Just kidding, it was good ol' god-fearing Christians who did it and it's called the Doctrine of Discovery.