Australian History in Credo: Colonial Period and 18th Century

Empire covering, at its height in the 1920s, about a sixth of the landmass of the Earth, all of its lands recognizing the United Kingdom (UK) as their leader.

Country under the control of immigrants who remain subject to the jurisdiction of the parent state. Historically, the acquisition of colonies occurred for a variety of reasons.

From Dictionary of Prisons and Punishment
Prior to the 1830s, hanging was the statutory punishment for many offences, but mitigation could result in the release of potentially dangerous felons. The Transportation Act 1718, by establishing transportation as the courts’ routine secondary punishment, ensured their removal, usually to America.

From Historical Dictionary of Australia
Eastern Australia was known from the explorations of James Cook in 1770 to have a temperate climate, and it was chosen as the new destination for convicts in 1786.

From The Encyclopedia of Invasions & Conquests
The continent of Australia became predominantly British in heritage because the Dutch did not follow up their discovery. The Dutch East India Company did not care to pursue the exploration of the land they called New Holland, despite Governor Anthony van Damien's assurances of the availability of gold and silver.

British navigator and explorer who commanded three major voyages of discovery, charting and naming many islands of the Pacific Ocean. Cook made notable contributions to hydrography. An agricultural labourer's son born in Marton, Yorkshire, on 27 October 1728.

From Historical Dictionary of Australia: Navigator and hydrographer, Flinders was born in Dorington, Lincolnshire, England, and joined the navy in 1789. He came to Australia in 1795. In 1798–99, he and George Bass sailed around Tasmania, proving it to be an island. On his return to England, Flinders was promoted to captain and ordered to chart the unknown parts of the Australian coastline, which he carried out between 1801 and 1803. Unfortunately, he was able to survey only about half the coast—from the southwestern corner to the western shore of the Gulf of Carpentaria in the Northern Territory—because of the poor condition of his ship. However, he did complete the first voyage around the Australian mainland.

From The Columbia Encyclopedia: Fl. late 16th–early 17th cent., Dutch navigator and colonial governor; his name also appears was Jansz or Janssen. Janszoon served (1603–11, 1612–16, 1618–28) in the Dutch East Indies.

From The Macquarie Dictionary
Colonial governor who, two hundred years ago, transformed New South Wales from a penal colony to a free settlement, thus planting the seeds for the founding of the nation of Australia.

English naturalist who, although making relatively few direct contributions to scientific knowledge himself, did much to promote science, both in the UK and internationally.

From Historical Dictionary of Australia: The “White Australia” was the term generally used to describe the objectives of Australia's immigration policy from 1901 to the late 1960s.

Extension of political and economic control over an area by a state whose nationals have occupied the area and usually possess organizational or technological superiority over the native population.

Broadly, the extension of rule or influence by one government, nation, or society over another. Evidence of the existence of empires dates back to the dawn of written history in Egypt and in Mesopotamia, where local rulers extended their realms by conquering other states and holding them, when possible, in a state of subjection.

Economic system of the major trading nations during the 16th, 17th, and 18th cent., based on the premise that national wealth and power were best served by increasing exports and collecting precious metals in return. Theory that a nation’s interests were best served by development of overseas trade and restriction of imports.

Institution based on a relationship of dominance and submission, whereby one person owns another and can exact from that person labor or other services. The institution of slavery extends back beyond recorded history. The enforced servitude of one person (a slave) to another or one group to another. A slave has no personal rights and is considered the property of another person through birth, purchase, or capture. Slavery has been found among many groups of low material culture, as in the Malay Peninsula and among some Native Americans; it also has occurred in more highly developed societies, such as the southern United States.