So I'm wanting to look a bit more in-depth into Australian history, geography, culture, and mythology for a project of mine. Wikipedia is a... decent starting point, but I was hoping some of the locals might be able to point me to something more thorough, precise, and/or detailed, and something that will avoid too many misrepresentations or biases. Any links or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
|
A noble goal, but tricky.
Much like America our own history has been subject to the politics of colonialism and the legacy of the British Empire.
From what I've been given to understand so much of Australian indigenous culture is based on oral traditions. When I have some more time later I might contribute some links to help, but I'll be watching this thread with vested interest.
Yeah, I figured that would be the case. I am interested in the history of that colonialism too, admittedly, and the interactions therein, as well as the more modern stuff to follow. Not just the pre-colonialization history.
You might look here for some articles on the mythology:
Thanks both of you =)
|
your best bet for oral traditions will be 'tales from the aboriginies' by bill harney
He covers dreamtime stuff, first contact with European colonists...
Phonetic analysis of indigenous words into phonetic groups (ul, DJ, ng) should give you migratory history...Australia has a lot of places divided up into indigenous place names you can geographically map the locations of different linguistic group.
Its a vast history what are you looking for pre-colonial, colonial\post colonial?
Starting books
Pre Colonial The Original Australians: Story of the Aboriginal People.
Colonial The Fatal Shore: The Epic of Australia's Founding..
This is a very good list from Goodreads.
I have an interest in Australia's military history so if you have any questions I can point you in the right direction.
Looking for both actually as well as modern. Thanks for the links, I'll give those a look later =)
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I remain convinced that anything you need to know about rural Australia in the 1980's can be gleaned from watching The Flying Doctors.
Hopefully within a few years there will be a "Sarusan? - The Lost Continent Gazetteer", drawing from all the sources mentioned.
That would be pretty cool =) I'm not taking this for a PF/gaming project, but I would definitely not oppose someone taking advantage of the gathered information and running something with it.
The problem I see with Sarusan is that it will be the Oceania of myth and dreaming... It's too far away to have a Colonial or post colonial history.
If you want something coffee table (with a U.S. Perspective & baggage attached) but still good I recommend the following episodes from Stuff you missed in history class . I do find they lack a little nuance and come with a how quaint filter - but they are reasonably well researched.
Bruce Chatwin's The Songlines.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The problem I see with Sarusan is that it will be the Oceania of myth and dreaming... It's too far away to have a Colonial or post colonial history.
If you want something coffee table (with a U.S. Perspective & baggage attached) but still good I recommend the following episodes from Stuff you missed in history class . I do find they lack a little nuance and come with a how quaint filter - but they are reasonably well researched.
I'm hoping for some of both. Maybe also have an adventure in which you have to fight off hordes of invading rabbits.
I'm hoping for some of both. Maybe also have an adventure in which you have to fight off hordes of invading rabbits.The problem I see with Sarusan is that it will be the Oceania of myth and dreaming... It's too far away to have a Colonial or post colonial history.
If you want something coffee table (with a U.S. Perspective & baggage attached) but still good I recommend the following episodes from Stuff you missed in history class . I do find they lack a little nuance and come with a how quaint filter - but they are reasonably well researched.
Rabbits bah! You need to read about the Emu war.
Rabbits bah! You need to read about the Emu war.I'm hoping for some of both. Maybe also have an adventure in which you have to fight off hordes of invading rabbits.The problem I see with Sarusan is that it will be the Oceania of myth and dreaming... It's too far away to have a Colonial or post colonial history.
If you want something coffee table (with a U.S. Perspective & baggage attached) but still good I recommend the following episodes from Stuff you missed in history class . I do find they lack a little nuance and come with a how quaint filter - but they are reasonably well researched.
Wow. Just finished reading about it on wikipedia.