The Nomadic Foragers of Australia
Overview:
The aboriginal people of Australia had much in common with the people of the the Americas. For one, the societies of both regions rose with little interference, at least initially, from the outside world. Similar to the people of North and South America, the aboriginal Australians were disconnected from the events happening in Asia and Europe, and thus experienced a lack of extended conflicts that plagued the aforementioned regions. This lack of conflict allowed for the aboriginals to build many trade networks. They would trade things such as pearls, spears, and surplus food. The heavy amounts of trading might lead one to believe that it allowed for tribal cultures to diffuse their customs to other tribes. However, this assumption would be false for the tribes of the aboriginal society were nomadic, and thus cultural traditions varied among the different tribes. This variation occurred because the aboriginals based much of their culture off of the local geography, and as a result the cultures of these people were suited to specific tribes rather than a large population.
The aboriginal people of Australia had much in common with the people of the the Americas. For one, the societies of both regions rose with little interference, at least initially, from the outside world. Similar to the people of North and South America, the aboriginal Australians were disconnected from the events happening in Asia and Europe, and thus experienced a lack of extended conflicts that plagued the aforementioned regions. This lack of conflict allowed for the aboriginals to build many trade networks. They would trade things such as pearls, spears, and surplus food. The heavy amounts of trading might lead one to believe that it allowed for tribal cultures to diffuse their customs to other tribes. However, this assumption would be false for the tribes of the aboriginal society were nomadic, and thus cultural traditions varied among the different tribes. This variation occurred because the aboriginals based much of their culture off of the local geography, and as a result the cultures of these people were suited to specific tribes rather than a large population.
Trade:
The lack of reliance on agriculture caused the economy of aboriginal communities to rely predominantly on trade. The aboriginal tribes traded a great variety of goods. Some of these goods include: food, spears, pearls, furs, skins, and fibers. These items simply offer a glimpse at the scope of aboriginal trading. Archaeologists have even found jewelry made of pearls over 1000 miles away from the waters where the pearls originated. Often, one tribe wouldn’t go over 1000 miles to deliver goods to another tribe. Instead, individuals from tribes would give their goods to other tribes that were close by, and the tribes that received the goods would repeat the process with different tribes until it eventually reached a destination far away from its original starting place. This phenomenon was only possible because of the extensive trade networks that the aboriginals built. All of these factors show how important trade was to the aboriginals.
The lack of reliance on agriculture caused the economy of aboriginal communities to rely predominantly on trade. The aboriginal tribes traded a great variety of goods. Some of these goods include: food, spears, pearls, furs, skins, and fibers. These items simply offer a glimpse at the scope of aboriginal trading. Archaeologists have even found jewelry made of pearls over 1000 miles away from the waters where the pearls originated. Often, one tribe wouldn’t go over 1000 miles to deliver goods to another tribe. Instead, individuals from tribes would give their goods to other tribes that were close by, and the tribes that received the goods would repeat the process with different tribes until it eventually reached a destination far away from its original starting place. This phenomenon was only possible because of the extensive trade networks that the aboriginals built. All of these factors show how important trade was to the aboriginals.
Culture:
The aboriginal culture did not spread far from Australia because of a few factors that limited its appeal to the local tribes. First off, the aboriginals traded a lot, but they never became one big population that shared a culture. Rather, the trading caused certain aboriginal tribes to receive a great variety of goods and customs that other tribes may have not had access to. This caused the culture of the individual tribe to change. The aboriginals also observed their local geography closely, and they set up religious ceremonies based off of the local geography. This made the culture of one aboriginal tribe distinct from the culture of another aboriginal tribe.
The aboriginal culture did not spread far from Australia because of a few factors that limited its appeal to the local tribes. First off, the aboriginals traded a lot, but they never became one big population that shared a culture. Rather, the trading caused certain aboriginal tribes to receive a great variety of goods and customs that other tribes may have not had access to. This caused the culture of the individual tribe to change. The aboriginals also observed their local geography closely, and they set up religious ceremonies based off of the local geography. This made the culture of one aboriginal tribe distinct from the culture of another aboriginal tribe.
Development of Pacific Island Societies
Overview:
The beginning of human development in Pacific Island societies:
Humans migrated to the Pacific Islands and established primitive societies revolving around agriculture. These primitive societies grew larger as more Polynesians migrated to these islands. Some of these islands could establish trade networks with each other, but some of them were unable to do so because of the large stretches of sea between the islands. The islands that were connected and had trade networks ended up with a stable trading economy that was reliable albeit a little simplistic.
The beginning of human development in Pacific Island societies:
Humans migrated to the Pacific Islands and established primitive societies revolving around agriculture. These primitive societies grew larger as more Polynesians migrated to these islands. Some of these islands could establish trade networks with each other, but some of them were unable to do so because of the large stretches of sea between the islands. The islands that were connected and had trade networks ended up with a stable trading economy that was reliable albeit a little simplistic.
Stable societies:
In the islands that were isolated from the rest of the world, such as the islands of Hawaii and New Zealand, trading within the borders of the local area was an activity that was done regularly. Communication between New Zealand and Tahiti or Samoa was very rare, however, this does not mean that the Polynesians were unable to establish a stable society in New Zealand. In fact, they found stable food supplies through good cultivation habits that lead to big harvests of yams, taro, and sweet potatoes. The inhabitants of New Zealand also found food through an innovation. This innovation, which was called the fishpond, allowed for the people of the islands to capture fish and raise them until they were big enough to be eaten. This efficient way of obtaining food lead to a stable society that would become ready to evolve into a complex society.
In the islands that were isolated from the rest of the world, such as the islands of Hawaii and New Zealand, trading within the borders of the local area was an activity that was done regularly. Communication between New Zealand and Tahiti or Samoa was very rare, however, this does not mean that the Polynesians were unable to establish a stable society in New Zealand. In fact, they found stable food supplies through good cultivation habits that lead to big harvests of yams, taro, and sweet potatoes. The inhabitants of New Zealand also found food through an innovation. This innovation, which was called the fishpond, allowed for the people of the islands to capture fish and raise them until they were big enough to be eaten. This efficient way of obtaining food lead to a stable society that would become ready to evolve into a complex society.
Complex societies:
After the basic needs like food had been fulfilled, these societies could become a complex in a political and social manner. Pacific islanders adopted a class system to govern the islands. This class system evolved when the inhabitants became specialized at certain jobs. This specialization called for a ruling class to govern the other classes. Thus, a class system consisting of three distinct classes (higher chiefs, lesser chiefs, and commoners) was embraced by the individuals residing in the Pacific islands. This complex social class system lead to distinct religions emerging in each island. Higher chiefs usually worked with priests when it came to religious matters. Because some of the islands lived in isolation, it would be inaccurate to group all of these religions together. Structures akin to temples called the Marae emerged because of these religions. As you can see, the Pacific Islands evolved from primitive agricultural societies, to large and expansive societies complete with their own religions and class systems.
By: Tejas Kalanithi
After the basic needs like food had been fulfilled, these societies could become a complex in a political and social manner. Pacific islanders adopted a class system to govern the islands. This class system evolved when the inhabitants became specialized at certain jobs. This specialization called for a ruling class to govern the other classes. Thus, a class system consisting of three distinct classes (higher chiefs, lesser chiefs, and commoners) was embraced by the individuals residing in the Pacific islands. This complex social class system lead to distinct religions emerging in each island. Higher chiefs usually worked with priests when it came to religious matters. Because some of the islands lived in isolation, it would be inaccurate to group all of these religions together. Structures akin to temples called the Marae emerged because of these religions. As you can see, the Pacific Islands evolved from primitive agricultural societies, to large and expansive societies complete with their own religions and class systems.
By: Tejas Kalanithi