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Australia
The root of the name Australia comes from the word "southern," which in Latin is australis. Legends of an "unknown land of the south" (terra australis incognita) have been popular in Europe since the Roman times and when Australia was founded by the Europeans this land was assumed to be this legendary land so got the name, which eventually evolved into the modern day spelling of "Australia."
Introduction:
The Australian culture and way of life begin with the aboriginal people, who continue to survive today in small numbers. These people, often divided by desert or other geographic barriers, occupied this massive land for thousands of years as each individual group of people grew and developed in differing ways. However, today the British and European influence is what most visitors see on a visit to Australia.
The aboriginal people developed different culture and lifestyles, but nearly everyone lived off the lands, whether that be as a farmer, a fisher, or a gatherer. These people learned what the land could offer and many people survived in very harsh conditions. However, the people were also extremely diverse as they spoke different languages, ate different foods, and had different social and political organizations.
With the arrival and settlement of the Europeans in the 1600-1700s, many of these aboriginal people died and with them their languages and cultures were lost. However, many others, particularly those in the deserts, survived and maintain their traditions, languages, and culture today to varying degrees.
European settlement on the island was slow at first since the British saw little economic value in the lands. However, in the late 1700s immigration began in larger numbers, especially in the form of criminals as the lands became a penal colony. However, a free colony was also established as the lands grew in various forms, with different cultures and lifestyles. The aboriginals continued to live off the land in the country's interior, as many of the Europeans were heavily urbanized and lived a lifestyle similar to that of Britain, although foods and other goods weren't as easily accessible. Additionally, the landscape and weather demanded alterations in the culture from that of Britain, which began the slow development of Australian culture.
Since the arrival of these early European settlers, and later settlers, including many from Asia's Far East, the culture has continued to develop and change. However, the people remain fairly urbanized and most people live near the coasts. This has allowed the aboriginal culture to survive in the country's interior and today there is a growing understanding and integration of these cultures into Australian culture. However, Australian culture is still heavily rooted in British and European culture as most people speak English, are Christian, and use modern technology and communication as the country is a world leader in many ways.
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Information for Australia was last updated: May, 2013 ● View our: Sources & Special Thanks