Dates to Know:•Tomorrow: World Map test!! STUDY!!!

•E & SE Asia Retests:▫Tomorrow AM @ 7▫Tomorrow PM @ 2:45▫Thursday AM @ 7

•Australia “Quest” (Double-Daily Quiz): Tuesday, 5/19

•Trunk Project Due: Thursday, 5/21

Culture of Australia & Oceania

What comes to your mind when we talk about Aussie culture?

Basic Facts on Australia• Capital: Canberra• Population: 22.6 million• Is a commonwealth of Britain

▫ it is a government still connected to Britain whose participants are all equal

▫Officially recognizes Queen Elizabeth as its monarch & Head of State—as a CEREMONIAL leader

• Australia operates under a parliamentary democracy and has a Prime Minister (Tony Abbott)▫Also a governor-general who reports directly to the

queen on behalf of Australia (Peter Cosgrove)

The Governor General (R) has more power, technically, than the Prime Minister (L) since he is a representative of the “official” Head of State, her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. However, the PM plays a much larger role in law-making

Prime Minister Tony Abbott

Governor General Peter Cosgrove

The History•Aborigines have lived in the region for

over 40,000 years•European contact began when Australia

was founded by Captain James Cook in 1770; he claimed land for Britain

•Gold rush in the late-1800s massive (European) immigration into the region

•Increased population and increased exploration allowed for “Crown Colonies” to be established in the 1800s

•1901: six colonies became a federation▫Commonwealth of Australia was

established!

The Flag of Australia

•Chosen in 1901; legally made the official flag in 1954

•Only flag to fly over an entire continent

Union Jack flag (British)

Australia Today: Aborigine Culture

Rock Art

Ceremony

Australian Culture: Non-Aborigine•Culture is heavily influenced by British

colonization:▫Most practice some form of Christianity▫Official language: Australian English▫Pastimes also influenced by the British

•Still, they have things of their own!

Vegemite to Australians is what PB & J sandwiches are to Americans

Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in the world—partially because of a hole in the ozone layer, and partially because of the numerous outdoor activities Aussies participate in.

Rugby, brought by the British, is a very popular (and violent) sport in Australia

Uggs are made in Australia

Famous Aussies

Celebrated Holidays• Australia Day: January 26

▫Celebrates the first arrival of convicts on Botany Bay, near Sydney

▫(really, the first British settlement, 1788)• ANZAC Day: April 26

▫ANZAC= Australian & New Zealand Army Corps▫Honors the Australian & New Zealand soldiers

who died in WWI & WWII• Easter Sunday (depends)• Queen’s Birthday (2nd Monday in June)• Christmas: December 25

▫Usually celebrated on the beach

New Zealand

Basic Facts: New Zealand• Capital: Wellington• Population: 4.4 million• Is a commonwealth of Britain

▫ it is a government still connected to Britain whose participants are all equal

▫Officially recognizes Queen Elizabeth as its monarch & Head of State—as a CEREMONIAL leader

• NZ ALSO operates under a parliamentary democracy and has a Prime Minister (John Key)▫Also a governor-general who reports directly to

the queen on behalf of New Zealand (Jerry Mateparae)

Similar to Australia, New Zealand’s Governor-General (R) holds more power than the PM. Jerry Mateparae is the first Maori person to hold this office!

Queen Elizabeth is still the Head of State, but usually only in a ceremonial capacity

Prime MinisterJohn Key

History•Settled by Polynesians in 700s (“Maori”);

created own culture•James Cook actually reached New

Zealand BEFORE Australia and was the first explorer to circumnavigate the area (1769)

•Was adopted into the British Empire in 1880▫Eventually, Europeans took over Maori

impoverished

Oceania/Pacific Islands

•Islands of Melanesia thought to be the first inhabited during the Ice Age▫Migrated from SE Asia▫Crossed the water in canoes & small boats

—lower sea levels then!

Melanesia•Original inhabitants:

migration around 30,000 years ago

•Melanesians make up ¾ of indigenous pop. of the islands

•Includes:▫Papua New Guinea▫Fiji▫Vanuatu▫New Caledonia

Micronesia• Have mongoloid physical characteristics:

▫ Mongoloid: describes people of E. Asia▫ Lighter skin, dark, straight or wavy

hair• People here generally live in coastal

villages• Native culture was the last to develop in

this region• Most islands are independent, but were

colonized by USA, Germany & British Empire at one point

• Includes:▫ Marshall Islands▫ Kiribati▫ Guam▫ Palau▫ Nauru

Polynesia• All islands are very similar in

terms of culture, language & physical appearance

• Physical Characteristics of natives:▫ Mongoloid features▫ Generally taller & lighter-

skinned than Micronesians & Melanesians

• Polynesians responsible for the stone statues on Easter Island

• Includes:▫ Tonga▫ Pitcairn▫ Hawaii▫ New Zealand