Australia and New Zealand Unit 9: Australia and Oceania

Population Density

The People: Australia Aborigines: May be world’s oldest surviving culture. Nomadic Hunters and Gatherers Arrived 40,000 to 60,000 years ago 2% of Population

Aborigines Direct relationship to the Landscape Dreamtime- A system of beliefs that they feel connects them back to the beginning of time.

The People: New Zealand Maori People Came from Polynesia Hunting, Fishing, Raising Crops.

Europeans Arrive 1500s first European Influences Most people in Australia and New Zealand today are of British Descent. Most People now Live in cities Sydney and Melbourne (3mil+) Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington

Early Peoples Nomadic Life Clans: Family groups Boomerangs: Used for hunting Women and Children gathered plants and seeds

European Exploration and Settlement James Cook claims Australia for Great Britain Produces Accurate Maps 1788 Australia becomes a convict colony lasts until 1850

The British in Aus and NZ Aborigines forcibly removed from land, denied basic rights. Mid-1800s put on reservations In NZ, Maori Social structure weakened Maori fought British rule for 15 years, lost most land to british

Independence 1901: Commonwealth of Australia Dominion=Self- Governing but within British Empire 1907-NZ becomes a dominion too Fun Fact: 1893-NZ is the first country in the world to legally recognize women’s right to vote.