Between Asia and the South Sea – the Continent of Dreams
They are regions of longing: Australia, New Zealand and the Oceanian islands. Hermann Mückler tells their history from the first settlement around 50,ooo years ago until the present day.
Shaped by the sea, the dotted islands and the expanses of Australia, the people there – the Aborigines, the Maori and the South Sea Islanders – developed unique cultural practices and rituals as well as fascinating survival strategies. Discovery and later colonisation by Europeans changed their way of life drastically. Alongside the US, China is an increasingly dominant factor in the region. But a new self-confidence characterises the descendants of the original inhabitants, who face great challenges today, not least due to climate change. A comprehensive guide through regions which, for many Europeans, remain dream destinations.
