Title: Culture of Australia
1Culture of Australia Oceania
2What comes to your mind when we talk about Aussie
culture?
3Basic Facts on Australia
- Capital Canberra
- Population 22,000,000
- Is a commonwealth of Britain
- it is a government still connected to Britain
whose participants are all equal - Officially recognizes Queen Elizabeth as its
monarch Head of Stateas a CEREMONIAL leader - Queen Elizabeth is a CEREMONIAL leader Australia
operates under a parliamentary democracy and has
a Prime Minister - Also a governor-general who reports directly to
the queen on behalf of Australia
4The History
- Aborigines have lived in the region for over
40,000 years - European contact began when Australia was founded
by Captain James Cook in 1770 he claimed land
for Britain - Gold rush in the late-1800s? massive (European)
immigration into the region - Increased population and increased exploration
allowed for Crown Colonies to be established in
the 1800s - 1901 six colonies became a federation
- Commonwealth of Australia was established!
5The Flag of Australia
Six Stars Six Provinces
Union Jack flag (British)
- Chosen in 1901 legally made the official flag in
1954 - Only flag to fly over an entire continent
6Australia Today Aborigine Culture
Ceremony
7Australian Culture Non-Aborigine
- Culture is heavily influenced by British
colonization - Most practice some form of Christianity
- Official language Australian English
- Pastimes also influenced by the British
- Still, they have things of their own! ?
8Uggs are made in Australia
Australia has the highest rates of skin cancer in
the worldpartially because of a hole in the
ozone layer, and partially because of the
numerous outdoor activities Aussies participate
in.
Vegemite to Australians is what PB J sandwiches
are to Americans
Rugby, brought by the British, is a very popular
(and violent) sport in Australia
9Famous Aussies
10Celebrated Holidays
- Australia Day January 26
- Celebrates the first arrival of convicts on
Botany Bay, near Sydney - (really, the first British settlement, 1788)
- ANZAC Day April 26
- ANZAC Australian New Zealand Army Corps
- Honors the Australian New Zealand soldiers who
died in WWI WWII - Easter Sunday (depends)
- Queens Birthday (2nd Monday in June)
- Christmas December 25
- Usually celebrated on the beach (what season is
it in Australia?)
11Oceania/Pacific Islands
- Islands of Melanesia thought to be the first
inhabited during the Ice Age - Migrated from SE Asia
- Crossed the water in canoes small boatslower
sea levels then!
12Melanesia
- Original inhabitants migration around 30,000
years ago - Melanesians make up ¾ of indigenous pop. of the
islands - Includes
- Papua New Guinea
- Fiji
- Vanatu
- New Caledonia
13Micronesia
- Have mongoloid physical characteristics
- Mongoloid describes people of E. Asia
- Lighter skin, dark, straight or wavy hair
- People here generally live in coastal villages
- Native culture was the last to develop in this
region - Most islands are independent, but were colonized
by USA, Germany British Empire at one point - Includes
- Marshall Islands
- Kiribati
- Guam
- Palau
- Nauru
14Polynesia
- All islands are very similar in terms of culture,
language physical appearance - Physical Characteristics of natives
- Mongoloid features
- Generally taller lighter-skinned than
Micronesians Melanesians - Polynesians responsible for the stone statues on
Easter Island - Includes
- Tonga
- Pitcairn
- Hawaii
- New Zealand