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Islands in the Pacific
Polynesians had settled many of the Pacific islands thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers. Although separated by miles of ocean, Polynesians spoke similar languages and followed similar customs. In the early 1800s, foreign sailors brought new diseases to the islands and many native Hawaiians died. American plantation owners overthrew the last Hawaiian ruler, Queen Liliuokalani, in 1893. Hawaii and other Pacific islands became colonies, and their traditional way of life declined.
The Europeans Arrive
The Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch were the first Europeans to explore the Pacific region. The most famous Pacific explorer was an Englishman named James Cook He discovered unknown plants and animals and claimed Australia for Britain. New South Wales was the first British Colony in Australia.
Settlement of Australia
Aboriginal people had lived on Australia for about 40,000 years before the arrival of Europeans. The Aboriginal people were hunter-gatherers who had a rich culture and elaborate spiritual beliefs. Britain began using Australia as a penal colony in 1788. Free settlers arrived and began raising sheep. This caused clashes with the Aboriginal people, as wool became an important industry in Australia. Many Aboriginal people were killed. The Australian government is still trying to right injustices done to them.
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