Changes

==Oceania==

==Oceania==

The name “Oceania” describes the lands of the central and south Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, and sometimes the Malay Archipelago.  The islands traded with each other, though typically not with faraway lands.   

The name “Oceania” describes the lands of the central and south Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, and sometimes the Malay Archipelago.  The islands traded with each other, but usually did not trade with any faraway lands.   

The Australian aborigines (natives) exist to this day on the island, having their own culture that only began to change with immigration by Europeans in the past 200 years.  The aborigines foraged (searched) for food and did not farm.

The Australian aborigines (natives) exist to this day on the island, having their own culture that began to change only with immigration by Europeans in the past 200 years.  The aborigines foraged (searched) for food and did not farm.

In fact, Australians did not have agriculture until the Europeans arrived.  The earliest agricultural civilizations were the Indus Valley, Sumer (Southwest Asia), Egypt and Andean highlands (potato).  Agriculture developed independently in different areas of the world in ancient times.

In fact, Australians did not have agriculture until the Europeans arrived.  The earliest agricultural civilizations in the world were the Indus Valley, Sumer (Southwest Asia), Egypt and Andean highlands (potato).  Agriculture developed independently in different areas of the world in ancient times, but not in Australia.

Like other cultures, the Polynesians were polytheistic and used a flattened or terraced pyramid for worship, similar to a ziggurat.  They grew in population most significantly after A.D. 1000.

Like other cultures, the Polynesians in Oceania were polytheistic and used a flattened or terraced pyramid for worship, similar to a ziggurat.  They grew in population most significantly after A.D. 1000.

The Hawaiian islands in the middle of the Pacific are so far away that they are not typically part of Oceania, and the distance was too far to establish trade until European sailors arrived.

The Hawaiian islands in the middle of the Pacific are so far away that they are not considered part of Oceania, and the distance was too far to establish trade until European sailors arrived.

The New Zealand population survived by growing sweet potatoes and fern roots, and also by raising dogs.  Fish was obviously a major food source on many of the islands, including Hawaii.

The New Zealand population, which is close to Australia, survived by growing sweet potatoes and fern roots, and also by raising dogs.  Fish was obviously a major food source on most of the Pacific islands.

None of these Oceanic societies had metallurgy (e.g., iron) or other technology.  But they did have social structures common to nearly every society, with a military class and the rich and poor.

None of these Oceanic societies had metallurgy (e.g., iron) or other technology.  But they did have social structures common to nearly every society, with a military class and both the rich and the poor.

== References ==

== References ==