The first people to settle in Australia were the Aboriginal Australians, who are believed to have arrived over 65,000 years ago. They traveled from Southeast Asia via land bridges and sea crossings during periods of lower sea levels. Aboriginal Australians developed a rich culture, with diverse languages, spiritual beliefs, and a deep connection to the land, which remains significant today. European colonization began in 1788, disrupting Aboriginal societies and their traditional ways of life, and leading to profound changes and challenges for Indigenous communities in Australia.