Connection, be it to the land, animals, spirits, etc., was very important to the indigenous peoples of Australia. They strived to constantly be in touch with their surroundings, and as a result, some tribes lived semi-nomadically; they followed natural food sources and lived in semi-permanent housing. Perhaps this is the reason that, despite their great strives for connection, the Australian Aboriginal peoples did not form great bonds between their differing cultural groups. Intensely isolated from the rest of the world, this increased separation proved fatal to the cultural community. From an estimated 1 million in number, the population of Australian Aboriginals dropped to around 93 200, taking much of their culture down with them. If the
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Land was organized and navigated by use of “songlines,” songs which held the terrain’s natural landmarks and useful markers (such as waterholes) in the rhythms. The lyrics transcended language and could be understood by all, so the same songs could be taught to youth as a rite of passage across Australia. In many ways, land was the most important connecting factor Australian Aboriginals had with each other, between individuals and different groups alike. The groups were clan-like, composed of extended family members that roamed their set (often traditional) landmass together for food collected by hunters and gatherers. There was inter-clan contact, as well as contact across land borders, but heavy restrictions were placed on such contact and rarely were any children born of these meetings. The Australian Aboriginal peoples were greatly restricted in their dietary options, especially in the barren desert-like center of the continent. Men often had to travel long distances to find suitable game, then use spears, nets, and traps cooperatively in order to catch things. There were gender divisions in food collection, but these were not rigidly enforced by the …show more content…
If the aboriginal peoples of Australia had put aside their differences and banded together when Europeans first docked on their shores, they would have survived better demographically. Innovation would have been brought about by a faster spread of ideas, lessened pressure to survive with more hunters and gatherers working together, and better preservation of knowledge. With technological advancement, the community would have been able to procure food more efficiently and ultimately hold their ground against colonization longer than they did. While this would have helped the Australian Aboriginal peoples survive better in terms of sheer population, it must be admitted that the unique culture they possessed may not have faired as well. There were many rare, vibrant differences between each clan, and forcing these cultures together would have eradicated a lot of diversity. It’s may not have been fair, but for the aboriginal peoples of Australia, coming together against the Europeans would have helped them survive, even if it let their culture
Land was organized and navigated by use of “songlines,” songs which held the terrain’s natural landmarks and useful markers (such as waterholes) in the rhythms. The lyrics transcended language and could be understood by all, so the same songs could be taught to youth as a rite of passage across Australia. In many ways, land was the most important connecting factor Australian Aboriginals had with each other, between individuals and different groups alike. The groups were clan-like, composed of extended family members that roamed their set (often traditional) landmass together for food collected by hunters and gatherers. There was inter-clan contact, as well as contact across land borders, but heavy restrictions were placed on such contact and rarely were any children born of these meetings. The Australian Aboriginal peoples were greatly restricted in their dietary options, especially in the barren desert-like center of the continent. Men often had to travel long distances to find suitable game, then use spears, nets, and traps cooperatively in order to catch things. There were gender divisions in food collection, but these were not rigidly enforced by the …show more content…
If the aboriginal peoples of Australia had put aside their differences and banded together when Europeans first docked on their shores, they would have survived better demographically. Innovation would have been brought about by a faster spread of ideas, lessened pressure to survive with more hunters and gatherers working together, and better preservation of knowledge. With technological advancement, the community would have been able to procure food more efficiently and ultimately hold their ground against colonization longer than they did. While this would have helped the Australian Aboriginal peoples survive better in terms of sheer population, it must be admitted that the unique culture they possessed may not have faired as well. There were many rare, vibrant differences between each clan, and forcing these cultures together would have eradicated a lot of diversity. It’s may not have been fair, but for the aboriginal peoples of Australia, coming together against the Europeans would have helped them survive, even if it let their culture