Shaping the content of property law depends on numerous factors; they are the assumptions of domineering political doctrine, religion (theology) or philosophy. We should also take into consideration the issue of historical development of individual institutions. In the Roman law the property institution has been shaped for long centuries. As a consequence, there were different definitions of property; among them there is one, the most important dominium. However, the specific form of possessing the estate was ager publicus. According to the domineering political doctrine, the territories conquered by Roman then, became the property of Roman nation. The former owners became merely the users, obliged to pay the leasing costs.

The author of the European Code of Civil Law goes further in his suggestions, namely, the term goods replace the notion thing. This indicates that the content of property law was adjusted to the free market doctrine, which dominates everywhere nowadays.