AUSTRALIA &  NEW ZEALAND · Europeans first came in the 1500's & laid claim · NZ first sighted by Abel Tasman in 1642 · AUS claimed in 1768 by James Cook for the British - the British later signed a treaty with the Maori people of NZ to extend their claim · Early settlers were convicts - Penal Colony · English language / culture IMPERIALISM OF THE LATE 1800'S · In the late 1800's GB, FR, GER, SP, USA all competed for colonial rule of Oceania because of its mineral wealth & strategic location · USA wins the Spanish-American War & gains control of Micronesia · Early 1900's - Australia & New Zealand gain independence from the British but remain a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations · After WWI (1919) Japan took control of many former German colonies in the Pacific · Dec. 7, 1941 Japan bombs Pearl harbor - WWII - Brutal fighting at places like Iwo Jima & Guadalcanal.  After the war Micronesia became a trust territory of the USA AUSTRALIA · A continent & a country  -- Aborigines were the first native Australians · Population today is about 18,000,000  --  Population Distribution - very uneven · Urban Population is about 85% (compare to US)  -- 10% of the land is arable Three Natural Regions of Australia 1. Western Plateau - makes up 2/3 of Australia.  Has light rainfall & a limited source of water.  Three deserts here - Great Sandy, Great Victoria & Gibson. 2. Central Lowlands - Light rainfall but a good source of water with the Murray River, Darling River & the Artesian wells.  Good farmland & pastureland for grazing. 3. Eastern Highlands - 1/2 of the population is here.  The Great Dividing Range is here - this is where most of Australia's fresh water comes from · Great Barrier Reef off the Northeastern coast · 10% of the land is arable · Australia is one of the world's leading producers & exporters of: cattle, sheep, beef, mutton, wool  & wheat · Large "stations" to raise livestock · Good supply of mineral resources Animals of Australia New Zealand · North & South Island · 1st people - Maori  --  1/3 of New Zealand is the Southern Alps · Climate, rainfall, soil are all good - therefore, good farming & pastureland here · New Zealand is #2 in world production of wool behind Australia · Good land but few mineral resources Oceania · Oceania is the name given to 20 - 30,000 islands in the Pacific · Largest Island -- New Guinea · Second Largest -- North Island, New Zealand · Third Largest -- South Island, New Zealand · These three Islands make up four-fifths of the total land area of Oceania · These three Islands make up four-fifths of the total land area of Oceania Oceania is divided into three main groups: 1. Melanesia 2. Micronesia                    (based on race, customs, geography) 3. Polynesia            · These islands are grouped into archipelagos Some of the best known archipelagos are: 1. Carolines   2. Gilberts   3. Marianas    4. Marshalls · Population: 11 million · Most with a population of less than 100 people Melanesia - black islands (the people have black skin) · Location: SW Pacific -- north and east of Australia · People: short, resemble Africans (some Pygmies) · Language: 700+ (today, mostly English) Micronesia - small islands · Location:  north of Melanesia and south of Japan · Largest Island: Guam (30 x 10 miles) · People:  taller, lighter skin · Language: 9 Polynesia - many islands · Location: Midway Island in the north, to New Zealand in the South to Easter Island on the east · People: tallest, lightest skin · Language: Many, but similar vocabs (malayo-Polynesian) Two Types of Islands: High Islands: mostly volcanic (some active)                      rugged mountains                      many earthquakes Low Islands: Coral Reefs - some only a few feet above sea level                      Atolls (coral reef surrounding a large lagoon)                      raised atolls (produced by tectonic movement) Religion in Papua New Guinea Many different Religions (Christianity --90%) Based on two major elements: Belief in Spirit World / Magic Cannibalism: Historically They Ate Dead Family Members (recently outlawed)                    · Body was prepared and cooked by a strict code · Believed it protected one from illness · Divided among clan members based on relationship Kuru (KOO-roo) fatal "laughing disease"  --  affects the central nervous system TAHITI · Largest Island in French Polynesia -- 1/3 size of Rhode Island -- Capitol: Papeete (pah-pay-AH-tay) · Two Islands joined by an isthmus  -- formed by extinct volcanoes · Climate: two seasons  --/-- Nov - Apr -- 72 to 90 degrees / May - Oct -- 64 to 72 degrees History of Tahiti - Life before Europeans · Came from Asia (300 AD) · No written system, No metal works, No work (Fishing & Gathering) · Highly structured society · Chiefs  -- Arii (ah-REE-ee) · Landowners  -- Raatira (rah-AH-tee-rah) · Commoners -- Manahune (mah-nah-HOO-nay) · Children born of a union between chiefs and commoners were killed European Discovery June 17, 1767 - Captain Samuel Wallis - HMS Dolphin "Love for a Nail" Followed by French Followed by James Cook (4 voyages) Tahiti Population -      1769                     150,000                                           1865                         7,169 What happened? Diseases           syphilis, tuberculosis, smallpox, dysentery Mutiny on the HMS Bounty Capt. William Bligh  -- Fletcher Christian Local History King Pomare II (po-MAH-re) Converted to Christianity 1812 -- Removed Catholics in 1835 French took control in 1842 -- Queen Pomare IV fought but lost to French Tahiti Today Class Structure:  Related to ethnic backgrounds Upper Class: Popaa (poh-pah-AH) White Foreigners -- Mostly French civil servants Salaries 84% higher than in France -- Pay no income tax live apart from the local population -- creates much resentment Middle Class: Demis (doh-MEE) people of mixed ancestry -- wealthy landowners -- economically powerful  -- No political clout Some Chinese manage own business -- economic power -- no cultural ties Lower Class:  Polynesians High Unemployment  --  10 to 15 in one house -- rent farms from landowners Interesting Facts Health Care: Raau Tahiti (rah-AH-oo tah-hih-tih) local medicine Herbal remedies Tahua (tah-HOO-ah) medicine man Some treatments Stung by Sea Urchin -- urinate on it injury step on sarfish -- turn it over an rub it on wound sting by scorpion fish -- bath in sea cucumber water Social Problems Junival delinquency school drop outs -- theft, cheating, burglary call themselves Hombos (HOM-boh) poor cultural identity Alcoholism usual age for drinking is 14 impressed by good drinkers -- source of pride creates domestic violence world record fro number of road deaths per mile Black Pearls takes two years  -- plant 20,000 a year only 30 to 50% produce only 3% are perfect Nuclear Testing Moruroa