Show colonial jurisdiction hinterland is defined as the region lying behind a littoral country de pendent for trade or commerce upon it As a political term the expression came into prom nence daring during 1883 85 5 when germany insisted upon her right to exercise jurisdiction in the territory behind the parts of the af rican coasts which she occupied the doctrine of the hinterland was mas that the possessor of the littoral was en titled to as much of the back country as was vms dependent upon the coast land geographically economically or PO politically title cilly 1117 the doctrine speedily edily led to the partition of africa among the vailous european powers |