How Europeans Almost Divided Australia | History

Summary

The video explores why Australia wasn't colonized by European powers until 1788, despite being discovered by the Dutch in 1606. It discusses the lack of immediate interest due to more lucrative opportunities elsewhere and the land's perceived unpromising nature. The script explains how Britain eventually claimed the entire continent, unchallenged by other European powers, capitalizing on a unique window of opportunity during the 18th century, while other nations like France and Sweden had plans but were thwarted by various circumstances.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Dutch explorer Willem Yonson was the first European to set foot on what is now known as Australia in 1606.
• 🏝️ Unlike the Spanish and Portuguese, the Dutch and other European nations were slow to explore and colonize Australia.
• 🇦🇺 The first genuine European settlement in Australia was not established until 1788 by the British in the southeast.
• 🧭 Early explorers like Yonson had limited knowledge of Australia, mistaking it for part of New Guinea.
• 🌐 In the 17th century, European powers were more focused on more promising opportunities elsewhere, such as the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
• 📊 The Dutch East India Company saw no commercial benefit in colonizing Australia, citing certain and heavy costs.
• 🌳 The areas of Australia that Europeans were familiar with at the time, like the north and west, were less attractive or fertile compared to the southeast.
• 🇫🇷 In the 18th century, both Britain and France showed interest in colonizing Australia after setbacks in the Americas.
• 🏛️ The British established the first permanent European settlement in Australia as a penal colony in 1788, with ambitions beyond just housing prisoners.
• 🇸🇪 Sweden also had plans to colonize Australia in 1786 but was thwarted by the outbreak of war with Russia and Denmark.
• 🌟 The French Revolution and subsequent wars distracted France from its colonial ambitions, allowing Britain to establish a foothold in Australia unchallenged.

Q & A

Who was the first European explorer to set foot on what is now known as Australia?

The first European explorer to set foot on what is now known as Australia was the Dutch explorer, Willem Yonson, in the year 1606.

Why did the Dutch not immediately attempt to colonize Australia after discovering it?

The Dutch did not immediately attempt to colonize Australia because they, along with other European nations, found more promising opportunities elsewhere and regarded the land as unpromising due to its lack of obvious wealth and remoteness from major trade routes.

What were the circumstances that led to the first genuine European settlement in Australia in 1788?

The first genuine European settlement in Australia was founded in 1788 by the British, who began to settle the southeast of the continent. This was almost 200 years after its discovery by Europeans, as other European powers were preoccupied with more immediate and profitable opportunities elsewhere.

Why did the Dutch East India Company express no interest in colonizing Australia in the 18th century?

The Dutch East India Company saw no prospect of use or benefit to the company in colonizing Australia, citing very certain and heavy costs instead.

How did the French and British setbacks in the Americas influence their interest in Australia?

The French and British setbacks in the Americas, particularly the loss of territories, led both nations to look towards Australia as a potential area for compensation and further exploration, increasing their interest in establishing colonies there.

What was the nature of the first permanent European settlement established by the British in Australia in 1788?

The first permanent European settlement established by the British in Australia in 1788 was a penal colony, where prisoners were employed in developing the colony into a proper piece of the empire.

What event in French history significantly disrupted France's colonial efforts and affected their plans for Australia?

The French Revolution, which erupted in 1789, disrupted France's colonial efforts for nearly 30 years, sidelining their plans to follow up on their claims to western Australia.

What other European power showed interest in establishing a colony in Australia, and what were their plans?

Sweden showed interest in establishing a colony in Australia. In 1786, King Gustav III and William Boltz drew up plans to set up a colony on an island called Boltholm in the eastern seas, with the intention of exploiting the resources of Australia.

Why did Sweden's plans to establish a colony in Australia never materialize?

Sweden's plans to establish a colony in Australia were abandoned due to the outbreak of war with Russia and Denmark in 1788, which distracted Sweden from such ventures.

Why was Britain able to claim the entirety of Australia without facing competition from other European powers?

Britain was able to claim the entirety of Australia without competition because the period when it first became advantageous to colonize Australia coincided with a time when Britain was the only nation realistically able to do so. Once established, Britain was too powerful to challenge, and there was not much interest in doing so.