How were New Guineas different from Australia first people
The New Guineans and the Indigenous Australians were different in several ways:
1. Geographic Location: New Guinea is the world's second-largest island, located just north of Australia, while Australia is a continent in itself.
2. Linguistic and Cultural Diversity: New Guinea is known for its incredible linguistic diversity, with over 1000 different languages spoken on the island. In contrast, Australia has a relatively smaller number of Indigenous languages, with around 250 languages spoken prior to European colonization.
3. Physical Characteristics: There are significant physical differences between the populations of New Guinea and Indigenous Australians. New Guineans have a more diverse range of physical traits, with a variety of skin colors, hair types, and facial features. Indigenous Australians, on the other hand, usually have dark skin, curly hair, and distinctive facial features.
4. Technology and Material Culture: The New Guineans had more advanced technological and agricultural practices compared to Indigenous Australians. New Guineans cultivated crops like sweet potatoes, yams, and taro, and developed intricate farming techniques. Indigenous Australians, on the other hand, mainly relied on hunter-gatherer practices and did not extensively engage in agriculture.
5. Historical Interactions: The historical interactions between New Guinea and Australia also differed. New Guinea had more extensive trading networks with nearby islands and civilizations like the Austronesians and Polynesians. Indigenous Australians had limited contact with other civilizations and had a relatively isolated existence before European colonization.
It's important to note that these are generalizations, and within both populations, there were significant variations in terms of language, culture, and physical characteristics.