ENVIRONMENTAL WORLD HISTORY

NewZealand and Australia

Agenda

• Lecture
• Primary source analysis[post response toBlackboard]

• HW:no reading quiz--read Ross“Intro” and prepare discussionquestions for Tuesday’s class (I’llemail these out tomorrow)
• prepare presentations

https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/videos/798-tectonic-plates

Climate

Fauna Species

New Zealand

• Islands had birds, lizards,sea mammals, and bats
• Less diverse than otherPacific islandsadaptiveradiation

• But abundant numbers

Australia

• Gondwana’smarsupialsandmonotremes
• First placental mammalswere humans 60,000y.a.

• few new plant/animal species after 80 million yearsago

Aborigines, Land & Animals

• Largelyforested continent fedmegafauna (100 kg+ animals)returned nutrients tosoil
• Many theories about megafaunacollapse
• No grazing placental mammals orcrops = remained semi nomadichunter-gatherers
• Use of fire = formed scrublandscapeattractive to Britishsettlers

Polynesians, Land & Animals

• 13/14thcenturies: Maori arrival in NZ
• Plentiful animals = protein boost & massive population growth
• Flora not adapted to fireMaori hunting fires madegrasslands
• Debate: 15thc. societal collapse/fighting OR transition toagriculture?

Europeans in Oceania

• 16thcentury:Spanish andPortuguese arrived
• 17thcentury: Dutchdisplaced
• Tasman exploredAustralia, part ofNew Zealand
• All explorerswanted spices fromMolucca islands(modern: Indonesia)

James Cook (1728-79)

• Three voyages in Oceania
• Scientific (categorizingspecies, observing Venustransit)

• Secret instructions:discover southerncontinent

• Influenced British ideas ofAU and NZ
• Killed on Hawaii

Don Gardenargues Australiaexploited because:

• Christianity
• Capitalism
• Contempt

New Zealand

“So well was groundtilldthat Ihave seldom seen even in thegardens of curious (“careful”)people land better brokedown…” sweet potatoes“ranged in rows… all laid by aline most regularly” and othervegetables “set in small hollowsor dishes much as we do inEngland.”–Joseph Banksbotanistonboard Endeavor

New Zealand

• Maori seen as working,therefore owning land
• More readily assimilated
• Couldn’t just take land
• Nevertheless: differentideas of ownership
• Result: confusion amongBrits how to purchaseland

Primary Source Reflection on Blackboard:

• 1.What differences do you see in descriptions–cite specificexamples? [4 pts]
• 2.What impression does Cook have of each group? How can youtell? [4 pts]
• 3.How do you think this influenced Europeans’ treatment of peopleor land at each location? Why do you think that was? [4 pts]
• 4.Respond to a classmate’s post [4points]
• Whydo you agreeor disagreewith their assessment? Wouldyou point out anything in Cook’s descriptions that yourclassmate perhaps missed that may change her or his opinionof what the source reveals?