Region of the Pacific Ocean
Australasia is a
region which comprises
Australia ,
New Zealand , and some neighbouring islands (see the section
Derivation and definitions ). It is used in a number of different contexts including geopolitically, physiogeographically, and ecologically where the term covers several slightly different but related regions.
Derivation and definitions
Charles de Brosses coined the term (as French Australasie ) in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes
[1] (1756). He derived it from the
Latin for "south of
Asia " and differentiated the area from
Polynesia (to the east) and the southeast Pacific (
Magellanica ).
[2]
In Australia, "Australasia" is considered to be Australia, New Zealand,
New Guinea , and the
neighbouring islands of Melanesia .[
citation needed ]
In New Zealand, it means Australia, the
Australian external territories , New Zealand, and the
associated states and dependent territories of New Zealand .
[3]
Two Merriam-Webster dictionaries online (Collegiate and Unabridged ) define Australasia as "Australia, New Zealand, and
Melanesia ". The American Heritage Dictionary online recognizes two
senses in use: one more precise, being similar to the aforementioned senses, and the other broader, loosely covering all of
Oceania .
See also Notes References Richards, Kel (2006).
"Australasia" . Wordwatch . ABC News Radio. Archived from
the original on 2007-03-18. Retrieved 2006-09-30 . External links Notable people Notable works
Itinerario (1596 book)
Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën (1724 book)
Leo Belgicus
Mercator's 1569 World Map
Atlas Cosmographicae (Mercator's 1596 World Atlas)
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theater of the Whole World )
Speculum Orbis Terrarum (1578)
Mercator-Hondius Atlas
Atlas Blaeu-Van der Hem
Atlas Maior
Atlas van Loon
Spieghel der Zeevaerdt (Mariner's Mirror )
Atlas de Wit
Atlas Minor
Atlas Novus
Beudeker Collection
Blaeu Atlas of Scotland
Caert van't Landt van d'Eendracht
Klencke Atlas
Speculum Orbis Terrae (1593)
Tasman Map (c. 1644)
Van Langren's map of the Moon
Harmonia Macrocosmica
Dutch-created constellations (include:
Apus ,
Camelopardalis ,
Chamaeleon ,
Cancer Minor ,
Columba ,
Dorado ,
Gallus ,
Grus ,
Hydrus ,
Indus ,
Jordanus ,
Monoceros ,
Musca /
Apis ,
Musca Borealis /
Apes ,
Phoenix ,
Tigris ,
Triangulum Australe ,
Tucana ,
Volans ) Main centres General Related
Search for the
Northeast Passage
Search for the
Northwest Passage
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of Svalbard (cartography of
Svalbard /
Spitsbergen )
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of Jan Mayen (cartography of
Jan Mayen )
European exploration and mapping of Southern Africa
Search for the
Great Southern Land/Great Unknown South Land (
Terra Australis Nondum Cognita /
Terra Australis Incognita )
European maritime exploration of Australia (
Janszoon voyage of 1605–06 ,
Brouwer Route ,
Hartog's Plate ,
Eendrachtsland ,
Anthoonij van Diemens Landt ,
Nova Hollandia/Nieuw Holland )
European land exploration of Australia
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of Australasia (cartography of
Australasia )
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of Nova Hollandia (cartography of
New Holland / Australia )
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of Tasmania/Van Diemen's Land (cartography of
Tasmania )
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of the Australian continent (cartography of the
Australian continent )
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of the Australian mainland (cartography of the
Australian mainland )
Dutch discovery, exploration and mapping of Nova Zeelandia (
cartography of New Zealand )
Dutch exploration and mapping of Formosa/Taiwan (cartography of
Taiwan )
Dutch exploration and mapping of the East Indies (cartography of the
East Indies )
Dutch exploration and mapping of Southern Africa (cartography of
Southern Africa )
Dutch exploration and mapping of South Africa (cartography of
South Africa )
Dutch exploration and mapping of the Americas
Dutch exploration and mapping of the Pacific
Dutch discovery and exploration of Easter Island
VOC cartography (cartography in the
VOC World )
WIC/GWIC cartography (cartography in the
WIC/GWIC World )
Dutch colonial cartography
Science and technology in the Dutch Republic (
Golden Age of Dutch science and technology ) Influences Influenced
History of cartography (
First true atlas in the modern sense , 1570)
History of geography (
First undisputed non-Indigenous discovery, exploration and mapping of Australasia , including the
Australian continent and
New Zealand , excluding
New Guinea , 1606–1646)
History of geodesy and
surveying (
First published systematic uses of the triangulation method in modern surveying and mapmaking , 1533–1615)
History of navigation (
First published use of the Mercator projection for maritime navigation , 1569;
Discovery of the Brouwer Route , 1611)
History of hydrography (
First printed nautical atlas in the modern sense , 1584)
History of selenography / lunar cartography (
First published scientific map of the Moon with a topographical nomenclature , 1645)
History of uranography / celestial cartography (
First documented systematic mapping of the
far southern sky , 1595–1599)
History of astronomy (
88 modern constellations /
IAU-recognized constellations )
History of cosmography Field of studies
Notable scholars
Bibliography
Atlantes Neerlandici (book)Monumenta Cartographica Neerlandica (book)Grote Atlas van de Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie (book)Grote Atlas van de West-Indische Compagnie (book)Caert-Thresoor: Tijdschrift voor de Geschiedenis van de Kartografie (journal)Explokart (research programme at
Utrecht University )Brussels Map Circle (previously the Brussels International Map Collectors' Circle )
Australia on the Map (history and heritage division of the
Australasian Hydrographic Society )
Media related to
Australasia at Wikimedia Commons
