What impact has the modern world had on the aborigines?

Answer 1

The two answers below present two quite different points of view.

Answer 1:

For one thing, they don't die of disease at anywhere near the rate they did before antibiotics, vaccinations and modern medicine.

For another, they are a lot less-likely to starve. Modern agricultural techniques have caused food output to skyrocket, even in the far-corners of the world without fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, better practices and techniques will produce a LOT more food.

They have access to much better weapons, so hunting and self-defense are easier.

They have access to modern transportation, so they can go around the world substantially faster than they could on foot.

Modern communications make contacting others beyond the range of a didgeridoo much faster and easier. Aborigines in even the farthest corners of the continent can get access to education, medical information, emergency assistance, etc.

With better clothing, tools, shoes, etc. available to them, the aboriginal people can spend a lot less time making these things from hides and sinews.

Answer 2:

All of the above is partially true, but it is also a little naive. There tends to still prevail the feeling that Aborigines are better off in a "white" culture. This is not the case at all.

It is important to remember that, wherever "white man" has invaded the Aborigines' land, it has led to a massive loss of the aboriginal culture, language and way of life.

Prior to European settlement, the Aborigines knew no disease, and the Bush medicines they used were perfectly adequate for their complaints. European settlement brought in a whole lot of diseases to which the Aborigines had no immunity, such as measles, chicken pox and even influenza.

The Aborigines never suffered lack of food. Prior to European settlement, they spread out across the continent, living off the land, moving from place to place with the seasons, and having very effective and efficient means of hunting and gathering their food. European settlement pushed them off their lands, into the harsher interior, and white man destroyed their hunting grounds and even their fish traps.

Prior to white settlement, there was no need for self-defence. Yes, there were inter-tribal conflicts, but these were always quickly resolved, and the Aborigines had no need of fancy technology to help them settle their disputes.