Changes

== Early History ==

== Early History ==

Prior to contact from Europe, Tasmania was home to a number of indigenous groups, closely related to the Maoris of [[New Zealand]], with whom they traded and occasionaly fought wars. Unlike Aboriginals to their north, they were not nomadic people and settled in villages, traded with each other and developed agriculture.  

Prior to contact from Europe, Tasmania was home to a number of indigenous groups. It is estimated that when Europeans arrived in Tasmania there were between 4000 and 10,000 Tasmanian Aborigines, in 9 tribes.<ref>[http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/f6fa372655dcc15fca256c3200241893?OpenDocument 1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005 >> History >> Aboriginal occupation] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Accessed 21 March 2007.</ref> Most of these were systematically killed by the white colonists in the first 50 years of colonisation.<ref>[http://www.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/0D3893BEE905CA98CA256C3200241894?opendocument 1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005 >> History >> 1803-1850s, British outpost] Australian Bureau of Statistics. Accessed 21 March 2007.</ref>

 

Around 1600, various tribal groups were united under a central chief (Chief Treponema). For unknown reasons, the number of inhabitants of the Island fell rapidly during the 17th century until less than about 10 000 people were left.  

 

== European Colonization ==

== European Colonization ==