ASSIGNMENT ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM

TO BE SUBMITTED TO MR. JITENDRA SIR

HISTORY OF AUSTRALIA• The first inhabitants of Australia were the Aborigines, who migrated there at least

40,000 years ago from Southeast Asia. There may have been between a half million to a full million Aborigines at the time of European settlement; today about 350,000 live in Australia.

• Dutch, Portuguese, and Spanish ships sighted Australia in the 17th century; the Dutch landed at the Gulf of Carpentaria in 1606. In 1616 the territory became known as New Holland. The British arrived in 1688, but it was not until Captain James Cook's voyage in 1770 that Great Britain claimed possession of the vast island, calling it New South Wales. A British penal colony was set up at Port Jackson (what is now Sydney) in 1788, and about 161,000 transported English convicts were settled there until the system was suspended in 1839.

• Free settlers and former prisoners established six colonies: New South Wales (1786), Tasmania (then Van Diemen's Land) (1825), Western Australia (1829), South Australia (1834), Victoria (1851), and Queensland (1859). Various gold rushes attracted settlers, as did the mining of other minerals. Sheep farming and grain soon grew into important economic enterprises. The six colonies became states and in 1901 federated into the Commonwealth of Australia with a constitution that incorporated British parliamentary and U.S. federal traditions. Australia became known for its liberal legislation: free compulsory education, protected trade unionism with industrial conciliation and arbitration, the secret ballot, women's suffrage, maternity allowances, and sickness and old-age pensions.

Australia on the International Stage as Peacekeeper

• Prime Minister Howard sent 2,000 Australian troops to fight alongside American and British troops in the 2003 Iraq war, despite strong opposition among Australians.

• In July 2003, Australia successfully restored order to the Solomon Islands, which had descended into lawlessness during a brutal civil war.

• Australian citizens have been the victims of two significant terrorist attacks in recent years: the 2002 Bali, Indonesia, bombings by a group with ties to al-Qaeda in which 202 died, many of whom were Australian, and the 2004 attack on the Australian embassy in Indonesia, which killed ten.

• In Oct. 2004, Howard won a fourth term as prime minister. When rival security forces in East Timor began fighting each other in 2006, Australia sent 3,000 peacekeeping troops to stem the violence. Howard was defeated by the Labor Party's Kevin Rudd in elections in Nov. 2007. Rudd campaigned on a platform for change, and promised to focus on the environment, education, and healthcare. Observers predicted Rudd would maintain a close relationship with the United States. The military began withdrawing Australia’s 550 troops from Iraq in June 2008, following through on a promise made by Rudd.

• The worst wildfires in Australian history killed at least 181 people in the state of Victoria, injured more than a hundred, and destroyed more than 900 houses in Feb. 2009. At least one of the fires was determined to be the work of arsonists. Australian officials were criticized for failing to evacuate those in danger. A government inquiry was requested to research the state's response to the fires.

• Attractions in Sydney• sydney-opera-houseSituated among the stonework cliffs, Sydney

summons travelers and immigrants alike. If you are fascinated to travel around, then no one can stop you. Branded as the major center for literary and economic activities in the regions of Asia-Pacific, Sydney provides remarkable places attracting travelers from different parts of the world. Simply hop in to one of the Sydney Explorer Buses and you’re on your way to famous attractions in Sydney.

Sydney Opera House

• The white flapping sails of a vessel virtuously holding its head up high is one of the prominent and famous structures in the entire world. Located on Bennelong Point, the Opera House is a main center for Sydney’s performing arts. Inside such magnificent structure you can enjoy classical music, rock, opera, and dance concerts. During Sunday afternoons, free presentations are held outside of the building. Formally opened in 1973 by Queen Elizabeth II, the Opera House is a World Heritage edifice of UNESCO.

Harbour Bridge

• With its top standing at the height of 134m above the harbor, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is considered the biggest steel arch bridge on earth. You walk, ride a bicycle or otherwise be daring and climb the bridge to have a glance at the awesome sceneries.

• Circular Quay• Near to the Opera House, the Circular Quay is an

active location of bars, restaurants and shops. Circular Quay is situated at the north part of the central business district of Sydney, at a small cove named the Sydney Cove. It is a bubbly place crammed with activities with ferries departing each few minutes to various parts of the harbor. In this wonderful spot, you can choose to be in water to have a feel on Sydney’s magic or merely look through the heart of Sydney harbor. You can also get an excellent view of the harbor Bridge, a bit distance away.

Luna Park/ Milson Point

• Another familiar sight in Sydney is the Luna Park. It is a historical theme park which was opened in the year 1935. Luna Park is situated at Milson Point, on the northern coastline of Sydney Harbor. This birthright-listed park has observed everything, from alterations of ownership, lawful battles, to public activities both alliance of and opposing to Luna Park, ensuing in its many closures. Sydney Luna Park is considered nowadays as the leading theme park of Sydney and stays open from Mondays through Fridays. You can enjoy a free access to the park just to take in the atmosphere and feel the superb views.

Hyde Park Barracks

• Get a glance of the everyday lives of criminals and other residents, the convict system of Australia and exhumed artifacts of Hyde Park Barracks. The barracks were built between the years 1817 and 1819. It was situated at the southern part end of Sydney’s Macquarie Street. It features a museum managed by the Historic Houses Trust.

Sydney Observatory

• The observatory is an effigy-arched structure on Watson Rd. It served as an astronomical and research observation center for 125 years. However, today it is an astronomy museum which showcases interactive games and exhibits. Also, the Sydney observatory provides night sky viewings but such activity should be booked earlier.

• Museum of Contemporary Art• This museum could be noticed through its art-deco

design tan veneer and rectangular shape on the west part of Circular Quay. A shop inside this museum you could find different products by many Australian designers.

• Government House

HISTORY OF ITALY

• Be it scenic natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, fascinating art and architecture, or modern cities and beautiful countryside, Italy has it all. Among most popular tourist attractions in Italy include its amazing architectural masterpieces, museums and art galleries with excellent collections of art and artifacts, beautiful cities and serene and picturesque countryside throughout the country.

• Italy is also known worldwide for its excellent varieties of wines and superb cuisines, especially pastas and pizzas. Tourist attractions in Italy are spread across the country with almost every region of Italy offering something to its visitors. For your convenience, Travour has carefully selected the most famous tourist attractions in Italy. You can easily find and book an ideal Italy tour package for you, according to your choice and budget.

The Origins of the Name 'Italy'

•  Where does the name 'Italy' come from and how did Italy get populated over time? In remote times, going back to the Bronze Age and dated between the 18th and 17th centuries B.C. there was the great maritime migration of the Arcadians from the Aegean towards Southern Italy. Guided by their mythical king Oenotro, these people were called Oenotrians.

• From their expansion and mixings with the local populations, and with some complicated integrations, derived the Ausonians (Ausones), the Chones, the Morgetes, of course, the Itali, and the Siculians.

• The Latins probably also descended from the Oenotrians, but instead were pushed a bit further North. It has been shown that between the 16th and the 15th centuries B.C. several populations speaking diverse Indoeuropean idioms had already penetrated in Italy.

• These populations represent the result of the overlapping and in many ways a blending of a first wave of Indoeuropea in Italy with an existing non-Indoeuropean sub-layer like that very ancient Iberian-Caucasian, who survived the presence, even in the Roman era both in Eastern Sardenia as well as Eastern Sicily, where one refers to the Sicanians, and like the Aegean-Asianic of the Pelasgic type.

• The Pelasgi were perhaps the first inhabitants of the Palatine, the hill on which Rome would later rise, and perhaps the very ancient town called "square Rome" is attributed to them. In addition, the ancient God of the Roman hill Janiculum, Janus, came from Tessalia. Although tradition attributes him Indoeuropean origins, some historians say he has Pelasgic origins, with his name coming from Inuus Pelasgic.

• Therefore the Central-Southern part of Italy outlines a scenario very similar to that verified previously in Greece, where the Pelasgi, an antique Mediterranean population who lived in Tessalia, the Peloponnesian, the Caria, and quite probably in Crete and Cyprus in addition to the many other small islands of the Aegean, overlapped or fused with their arrival the Indoeuropean Greeks.

• The Arcadi, originally from Peloponnesia, speaking an ancient Greek language, and therefore Indoeuropean, is the perfect example of this fusion between Indoeuropean people and pre-Indoeuropean populations, given that Peloponnesia is the region in which the Pelasgic presence lasted the longest.

TOURIST’S ATTRACTION• Major tourist destinations in Italy include cities of Rome, Milan,

Florence, Venice, Siena, Turin and Naples. For adventure lovers, Italy has world-class ski resorts in scenic Alps and Dolomite mountains, a vast coastline with lovely beaches, and beautiful countryside, offering ideal conditions for walking and cycling holidays. Rome has several world-renowned tourist attractions including the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Forum, Fontana di Trevi, Castle Sant'Angelo and beautiful basilicas.

• The Duomo of Milan is the largest and most intricate gothic structure in Italy and the second largest Catholic cathedral in the world. Vatican City, an independent state situated in the center of Rome, also has several world-famous tourist attractions, including the famous St Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the world-renowned Vatican Museum .

• Venice is another most popular tourist destination in Italy, known for its beautiful canals and gondolas. The Grand Canal Venice of Venice is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy. Florence, the capital of beautiful Tuscany region of Italy, is the artistic capital of the country. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the finest museums in the world, displaying wonderful collections of paintings, including masterpieces by renowned artists such as Giotto, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Fra Angelico, Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Titian, Raffaello, Caravaggio and several others.

• Siena and Pisa are other major tourist destinations in Tuscany region. Siena is one of the most beautiful Italian cities, popular for its well-conserved medieval streets and piazzas, including the Piazza del Campo. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was once one of the seven wonders in the world, and is perhaps the most popular tourist attraction in Italy. Turin is another popular tourist destination in Italy, famous for its automobile industry. Major tourist attractions in Turin include Mole Antonelliana, the Piazza San Carlo, and Museo Egizio - the world's largest Egyptian Museum outside Egypt. Naples is other must visit tourist destination in Italy with several beautiful architectural masterpieces of the country. Naples also offers excellent base to explore the ancient city of Pompeii that was buried by a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, and the stunningly beautiful Amalfi Coast. This is not all; Italy has several other tourist destinations and attractions to engage you on your travel to Italy

A Short History of Switzerland

• Switzerland is a small country (41,285 km² = 15,940 square miles), but densely populated (7 million inhabitants, 170 per km² = 440 per sq.mi.), situated in the heart of western Europe. It shares much of its history and of its culture with its neighbours Germany, Austria, Italy and France.  

Early Swiss History• Stone Age•  About 600,000 years ago, temperatures sank and Europe was

covered by glaciers almost completely. In Lucerne, Central Switzerland, the thickness of the ice reached as much as about 1 km (3000 ft).Until about 30,000 years ago, several cold and warm periods followed, animals and men came to Europe and had to leave again. The focus of cultural development remained for thousands of years in the Middle East (Sumer, Babylon, Egypt), however. Traces of early hunters (weapons and tools made from stone splinters, bones of prey animals) can be found in several natural caves in Switzerland. Later, around 3000 B.C. lake-dwellers erected their houses made of wood and clay on posts at the shores of Switzerland's lakes

• Bronze Age• Metals, first copper, then bronze (an alloy of

copper and tin) were introduced in Europe around 2000 B.C. Bronze age tools and weapons were first just copies of the most advanced late stone age products.

• Iron Age• Iron was known in the Middle East as early as

around 3000 B.C. but came to Europe relatively late. The early Iron Age period in Europe (800 - 450 B.C.) is named after Hallstatt, a village in Austria.

• Celtic tribes in Switzerland• Celtic tribes colonized Europe from the east. Around 500 B.C. they

had reached Switzerland and eastern France. Their culture is known as the La Tène period (450 - 50 B.C.) of the Iron Age. This name comes from an excavation in western Switzerland (Lake of Neuchâtel). At this time, Switzerland's relatively flat midlands from Lake Geneva to Zurich were the territory of a celtic tribe named Helvetians.

• The name of the Helvetians lives on as a keyword for everything that needs a short name not depending on one of the four official languages spoken in different parts of Switzerland. The label "HELVETIA" can be found on coins and postal stamps. while the Swiss top level internet domain ".ch" stands for "Confoederatio Helvetica", the latin version of "Swiss Confederation".

• Age of the Romans• When the Helvetians attempted to move south to

Southern France they were stopped by the Roman commander and subsequent emperor C. Julius Cesar in 58 B.C. They were forced to return to Switzerland. The Romans controlled Switzerland's territory until about to about A.D. 400. Roman military camps and forts were erected at the northern Rhine frontier towards Germany. Several major Swiss cities and towns were founded by the Romans, among others Basel, Zurich, Geneva, Lausanne and Chur.