Identify two factors that led to Australia’s Indigenous population being highly susceptible to the diseases brought by Europeans.

Lack of Immunity: One of the primary factors that led to Australia’s Indigenous population being highly susceptible to the diseases brought by Europeans was the lack of immunity. The Indigenous population had been isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years, and thus, they had not been exposed to many of the diseases that Europeans had encountered and developed immunity to over time. This included diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza. When these diseases were introduced by the Europeans, the Indigenous population had no natural immunity, making them highly susceptible.

Social and Environmental Factors: The second factor was related to social and environmental conditions. The introduction of new diseases was often accompanied by significant changes in lifestyle and living conditions. The colonization process often led to displacement, overcrowding, poor sanitation, and malnutrition among the Indigenous population. These conditions weakened their overall health and made them more vulnerable to disease. Additionally, the traditional healing practices and knowledge of the Indigenous population were often not effective against these new diseases, further increasing their susceptibility.