AUSTRALIA AND OCEANIA

Regional Study• E- Economic • S- Social• P-Political• N-Environmental

This is the approach we will take to analyzing each region as we proceed throughout World Geography

Review of Environmental• Oceania and Australia includes many smaller islands as

well as the islands of New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea• The islands form three major groups:

• Melanesia• Micronesia• And Polynesia

• Australia• Largest landmass in Oceania• Most of the country is low-lying and flat• One major mountain range, the Great Dividing Range, runs in the

east• The interior of Australia , called the “Outback” , is a series of plateaus

and plains. • Australia also has many deserts.

Review of Environmental• Oceania

• The rest of Oceania is made up almost entirely of Islands• Most of these islands are low-lying• Some are coral islands, while others were formed through volcanic

activity.

• Antarctica• Most of Antarctica is covered by ice sheets• The South Pole lies in Antarctica.

Political- the History of the Region • For thousands of years, the inhabitants were sheltered

from the rest of the world• The way of life of these original, or ___________, people

centered around the sea. • The indigenous population of Australia are called ____________.

• Europeans• In the 1500s, Europeans began to explore the area• By 1900, most of the South Pacific Islands were colonies of

Europe. • In 1788, Australia became a _____________ for Great Britain.

Criminals were sent to Australia to serve their time. • This practice ended in 1868.

Political- Independence! • The 1900s brought _______________ to many Oceania

colonies. • Australia became independent in 1901. New Zealand in

1907• Many more became independent beginning with Samoa in

1962

Social• Did they really break free?

• Even though Australia broke free in 1901 from Great Britain, their flag still shows how connected the people still felt to their former colonizer

• Still today, almost half of all Australians claim British or Irish roots• Australians still honor the British monarch• Almost 10,000 Brits immigrate to Australia each year

• Oceania• Most islands in Oceania still celebrate a very traditional culture• New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team dance the Haka (war dance

from the Maori Tribe)• All Blacks perform for the Maori King• Euless Trinity High School in Texas performs their War Dance

Economics• Population

• Oceania and Antarctica are the most sparsely settled region in the world

• Most people in the region live in Urban areas• 4 out of 5 people in Oceania are Christians, a small percentage of

the population still follow traditional religions.

• Economics• Oceania is rich in minerals and energy resources. • Livestock raising has become an important economic activity• Europeans brought livestock and they have adapted well to the

climate. • ____________ farming is common in the Pacific Islands• _______________ Farming takes place on the Eastern and

Southern Coasts of Australia • Many people depend on commercial fishing