Australia and China Before Captain Cook

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Uncover the surprising history of trade and friendship between northern Australia and Asia before European settlement.</strong></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>For centuries seafarers from Asia journeyed across an ancient ocean highway to northern Australia. Macassan trepang traders sailed from what is now Indonesia in search of sea cucumbers-known as </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>trepang</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. These voyages forged early links between Asia and Australia shaping trade culture and friendship with Australia's First Nations peoples.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This engaging and accessible book explores questions such as: Did the Chinese visit Australia long ago? and Why was trepang so highly prized? </span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>It takes readers on the journey of the Macassans reveals how rock art records their visits and explains why this centuries-long exchange eventually came to an end. The story concludes with The Trepang Legacy showing how these encounters left lasting marks on language culture and memory.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Written for curious minds and students </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>Australia and China Before Captain Cook</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> provides a clear and compelling introduction to Australia's earliest international connections. It highlights how trade and cultural exchange shaped history long before Captain Cook's arrival giving readers a richer understanding of Australia's place in Asia and the world.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Perfect for classrooms libraries and anyone interested in Australia's hidden past this first book in the Chinese Australians series brings to life a little-known chapter of history that continues to resonate today.</span></p><p></p>