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Can an empire rise out of Australia if the Murri, Wiradjuri or another aboriginal people had managed to tame the Emu to use as a pack animal in a similar manner to the llama? Lets say they start using the animal around 1000 CE.

Would Europeans still have an easy conquest or does the developed australian civilization/s reach out first to discover the broader world? What technologies might the aboriginies develop to assist in using the birds and would this lead to other domesticates?

The Emu is a large flightless bird similar to the ostritch but native to australia. While having been hunted by humans its was not domesticated till recent attempts showed it had a rather mild temperment and made a good domesticate. It's possible the Emus mild temperment may show a past attempt at domestication or self domestication.

The soft-feathered bird reaches up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in height. They have long thin necks and legs. Emus can travel great distances at a fast, economical trot and, can sprint at 70 km/h (43 mph) for some distance at a time. They are opportunistically nomadic and may travel long distances to find food; they feed on a variety of plants and insects, but have been known to go for weeks without food. Emus ingest stones, glass shards and bits of metal to grind food in the digestive system. They drink infrequently. Emus are also able to swim. The birds are known to follow and watch other animals and humans. Emus do not sleep continuously at night but in several short stints sitting down.

Emus use their strongly clawed feet as a defence mechanism. Their legs are among the strongest of any animal, allowing them to rip metal wire fences. They are endowed with good eyesight and hearing, which allows them to detect predators in the vicinity. They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.

Please understand i am new here and this will be my first thread attempt.
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