The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines made Australia

Name: The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines made Australia
Price: 14.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (309 reviews)

4.4 of 5 Stars: Australia & Oceania - The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines made Australia

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Book Synopsis: Explodes the myth that pre-settlement Australia was an untamed wilderness revealing the complex, country-wide systems of land management used by Aboriginal people. Winner of the Prize for Australian History in the Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2012; The History Book Award in the Queensland Literary Awards 2012; the Victorian Prize for Literature 2012; and the ACT Book of the Year 2012. Across Australia, early Europeans commented again and again that the land looked like a park. With extensive grassy patches and pathways, open woodlands and abundant wildlife, it evoked a country estate in England. Bill Gammage has discovered this was because Aboriginal people managed the land in a far more systematic and scientific fashion than we have ever realized. For over a decade, Gammage has examined written and visual records of the Australian landscape. He has uncovered an extraordinarily complex system of land management using fire and the life cycles of native plants to ensure plentiful wildlife and plant foods throughout the year. We know Aboriginal people spent far less time and effort than Europeans in securing food and shelter, and now we know how they did it. With details of land-management strategies from around Australia, The Biggest Estate on Earth rewrites the history of this continent, with huge implications for us today. Once Aboriginal people were no longer able to tend their country, it became overgrown and vulnerable to the hugely damaging bushfires we now experience. And what we think of as virgin bush in a national park is nothing of the kind.

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Discover the secrets of Australia's land management in The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines made Australia. Winner of multiple prestigious literary awards, this book unveils the sophisticated systems used by Aboriginal people to maintain the land, creating a picturesque and abundant country estate unlike any other. Let author Bill Gammage guide you through the revelations that will change your perspective on pre-settlement Australia.

Uncover the truth about Australia's landscape through the eyes of early Europeans who remarked on its park-like appearance. With grassy patches, open woodlands, and thriving wildlife, the land was not untouched wilderness but a carefully tended estate. Bill Gammage's research unveils the profound land management practices employed by Aboriginal people, showcasing a level of systematic and scientific care that is unparalleled.

Embark on a journey with Bill Gammage as he unravels the complex system of land management used by Aboriginal people through fire techniques and plant life cycles. The Biggest Estate on Earth provides insight into how Aboriginal communities ensured a consistent supply of wildlife and plant foods with minimal effort in comparison to European settlers. Gain a new perspective on the efficiency and sustainability of Aboriginal land management practices that have left a lasting impact on the continent.

Experience a historical paradigm shift with The Biggest Estate on Earth, revealing how Aboriginal land management strategies have influenced today's ecological challenges. Explore Australia's rich history and learn how the land can thrive when managed with care and knowledge. Don't miss out on this groundbreaking narrative that will forever change how you view the Australian landscape.

Learn more about The Biggest Estate on Earth and unlock the hidden secrets of Australia's past.

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