Backbencher
Weblog for HIST 381 at NDSUTuesday, March 28, 2006
Book Review: Australia by Rohan Rivett
This book is not in the current course bibliography, however it has been approved by Dr Isern.
The book Australia by Rohan Rivett (part of The Modern World series), is a qualitative history which tells an almost lighthearted tale of Australia’s technological development up to 1968, when the book was published. It starts in the old times of when Australia was originally a penal colony and had to learn to export goods in order to survive. What brought Australia to an influx of colonists was the discovery of gold, which brought many people to the land, and the technological innovations necessary to support the gold rush were included in that, such as railways and the mining trade. The discovery of Bauxite only created greater worldwide interest in how the country was doing.
Australia experienced many little developments here and there until the outbreak of WWI. With the sending of troops to fight overseas English and other countries took note of how well Australia was doing. After the war, the reforms and industrial revolution promoted Australia’s intellectual crowd to start the search for a national identity, which was completed through the refining of the technologies. This continued through the outbreak of WWII, when Australia learned that she could not depend on England, and was forced to fight for her own survival against the Japanese. Through this, she became closely allied with the United States, and developed unique tools and tactics to remain free.
The book only goes to the year 1968 after WWII, but it exemplifies how Australia has come a great long way to maturing itself and refining it’s technologies. Currently they are farming wheat and Bauxite, which is in demand worldwide. The intellectual universities and other bodies are performing research and creating new ideas which is being recognized worldwide.
I took a challenge to write upon this book as Dr Isern thought it lacked much of a story. I believe that the reader should put him or herself into Australia’s shoes and learn to make something out of nothing. I shall advocate that Dr Isern add this book to the course bibliography, as I believe it is a welcome part of Australia’s history and culture.
Rivett, Rohan. Australia. 1968. Great Britain: Oxford University Press.
Found in North Dakota State Univesity Main Library, call # DU 95 R57
The book Australia by Rohan Rivett (part of The Modern World series), is a qualitative history which tells an almost lighthearted tale of Australia’s technological development up to 1968, when the book was published. It starts in the old times of when Australia was originally a penal colony and had to learn to export goods in order to survive. What brought Australia to an influx of colonists was the discovery of gold, which brought many people to the land, and the technological innovations necessary to support the gold rush were included in that, such as railways and the mining trade. The discovery of Bauxite only created greater worldwide interest in how the country was doing.
Australia experienced many little developments here and there until the outbreak of WWI. With the sending of troops to fight overseas English and other countries took note of how well Australia was doing. After the war, the reforms and industrial revolution promoted Australia’s intellectual crowd to start the search for a national identity, which was completed through the refining of the technologies. This continued through the outbreak of WWII, when Australia learned that she could not depend on England, and was forced to fight for her own survival against the Japanese. Through this, she became closely allied with the United States, and developed unique tools and tactics to remain free.
The book only goes to the year 1968 after WWII, but it exemplifies how Australia has come a great long way to maturing itself and refining it’s technologies. Currently they are farming wheat and Bauxite, which is in demand worldwide. The intellectual universities and other bodies are performing research and creating new ideas which is being recognized worldwide.
I took a challenge to write upon this book as Dr Isern thought it lacked much of a story. I believe that the reader should put him or herself into Australia’s shoes and learn to make something out of nothing. I shall advocate that Dr Isern add this book to the course bibliography, as I believe it is a welcome part of Australia’s history and culture.
Rivett, Rohan. Australia. 1968. Great Britain: Oxford University Press.
Found in North Dakota State Univesity Main Library, call # DU 95 R57
Archives
January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 December 2006 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008
