Australia/Oceania Study Guide

What European group first discovered Australia , and what is the name of the gentleman who claimed eastern Australia for his country ?

Great Britain , lead by captain James cook

Many of the animal presentations we saw had animals that are nocturnal . What does it mean to be nocturnal , and why would many of these choose to be nocturnal ?

Nocturnal means to sleep during the day and stay awake during the night , they are nocturnal to escape the heat of the day and have fewer

What is the name of the group of people who first settled the region of Australia ?

aborgines

How were the first people able to migrate to Australia and the islands of this area ?

across land bridges during the last ice age

The treadmill-

convicts were made to step continuously on treadmills to power wheels that ground grain

What has led the to the formation of Oceania's high islands ? Low islands ?

high islands are formed from volcanoes and are mountainous . Low islands are made up of coral reefs or atolls .

Flogging

hit repeatedly with a whip or stick

Australia is the world's leading producer of what agricultural product ?

wool

Describe the size of Australia both as continent and a country

Australia is the smallest continent , but also the world's 6th largest country

How did WWII impact many of the islands of Oceania both physically and politically ?

Because the islands were destroyed . Many of these places initially became us territories which gained there independence

Why are there some many livestock ranches in Australia , and why are they so gigantic ?

Because the outback is so dry , They have lots of room for them , and to find enough vegetation to eat

Almost every animal we talked about has a longer life expectancy in captivity than it does in the wild . Why

Because they don't have to worry about foraging for food , habitat loss , predators , and they have better healthcare .

Describe the primary language spoken by people living in this region ?

English is the language spoken by the majority of the population in both regions . Australian English is a unique balance between old Aboriginal language and modern English . ( AKA Strine english or pigeon english )

When , why , and how did the British use Australia as a Penal colony , and what has been the lasting impact of this policy ?

In 1788 to 1850- they started sending the convicts to Australia because it became overcrowded in Great Britain because of widespread poverty . They took them there on boats . The new settlers introduced livestock to the region

Where does the majority of the regions population live ? Why

In Australia , most of the population lives on the southeastern , eastern , and southwestern coasts while in New Zealand most of the population lives along the coast . They live there for the climate and the oceans / beaches , access to water agricultural areas .

Describe how education and healthcare are impacted by the remote geography of the Australian Outback , and what they have done to try and solve these problems ?

It was hard for them to get healthcare and education since they were in the outback so they made planes to fly to the places they need for healthcare and they had the teachers talk to the students on the radio to learn . ( royal flying doctor service )

How did the arrival of the Europeans impact the native populations of Australia ?

Many aborigines were removed from their land and denied of their basic rights . Disease and violence steadily decreased the aborigine population . In the 1800s many Aborigines were placed on reserves

What are the largest cities in Australia ? Why are theses cities important to Australia's economy ?

Sydney and Melbourne are the largest cities . They are also the region's major commercial ports .

What type of government system did the Australians develop after the established their independence ? Who did they model this after ?

The government was a blend between U.S. style federal system with a british style parliamentary system .

indigenous people in this region ? What is the most widely practiced religion throughout the region ?

The indigenous people's religious traditions focus on the relationship between humans and nature . Christianity is the most widely practiced religion

What were the convicts allowed to do during their free time ? What were they forbidden from doing ?

They could get tattoos , played chess , tell stories , recited poetry , play cards , etc. Gambling and drinking alcohol was forbidden .

Describe the restriction an Aborigine faced while being forced to life on a mission ? Aborigine Video Worksheet )

They couldn't do whatever they wanted , they couldn't leave the mission without permission . Locked in their bericks on the weekends , they couldn't worship their own religion . They were forced to work payed in rations .

What things are threatening the survival of the Great Barrier Reed ?

They have experienced bleaching , pollution , human interaction , illegal fishing , warming waters , coastal developments , and their food web is becoming destroyed .

What type of lifestyle did the early Aborigines live , and why did they have few material possessions ?

They were nomadic ( traveled ) people , they have few material possessions so its easier to move .

Describe the " stolen generation " of Aborigine children . ( Aborigine Video Worksheet )

They were removed from their families through government policies , to civilize them . ( 100,000 children were taken from their homes )

Why did the United States fight to control certain islands in Oceania , such as Guam and the Mariana Islands ?

To put strategic military bases there . The resouces . They wanted to acquire new sources of raw material

Why does Ayers Rock appear reddish ?

appears reddish because its iron content rusts at the surface .

Why has Australia's freshwater sources become threatened in recent years ?

due to the region's drought , salt , irrigation , and agricultural runoff .

Describe the work the convicts were expected ( make sure to give specific example )

expected Men did hard labor work - mining . Women did domestic work - cooking work in hospitals . They would build roads , bridges , courthouses , hospitals and other public buildings , or work on government farms .

Describe the healthcare the convicts received while in the convict colonies

had untrained doctors and nurses , and very crowded hospitals , very dirty and unsanitary .

Solitary confinement-

isolated in a tiny room where they were barely given food or water

What was the monetary system that was developed on the many islands of Oceania as a way to make trade easier ?

it was a long string of shell pieces .

How much of Australia's land is suitable for farming ? What things help the Australians make best use of their land ?

less than 10 percent . Irrigation , fertilizers and modern technology have helped Australia make best use of land

Leg irons

locked around a prisoner's ankles ' joined with a chain to restrict movement

What are the three major groups that people settled into as they migrated throughout Oceania ?

melanesia , micronesia , and polynesia

The region is home to many unique animal species , however , in recent many have become threatened . What things are threatening these species and what is being done to try and protect them ?

the destruction of habitats . they have been threatened by the introduction of non - native animals . These new animals have multiplied and taken over the habitats of Australia's native species .

Why were the Islands of Oceania able to develop their own distinct languages and religions ?

the vast distance between the islands