The History & Culture The History & Culture of the Pacific Islandsof the Pacific Islands

TIMELINETIMELINEIce AgeIce Age Southeast Asian migrants – New Guinea and Southeast Asian migrants – New Guinea and

Melanesia.Melanesia.

5000 Yrs. Ago5000 Yrs. Ago Continued to migrate, populated MicronesiaContinued to migrate, populated Micronesia

3500 Yrs. Ago3500 Yrs. Ago Migration reached FijiMigration reached Fiji

77thth – 13 – 13thth CenturyCentury

Polynesia inhabited inc. HawaiiPolynesia inhabited inc. Hawaii

1513 AD1513 AD Spanish Explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa 1Spanish Explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa 1stst European to sight the Pacific IslandsEuropean to sight the Pacific Islands

1519 AD1519 AD Portuguese Explorer Ferdinand Magellan 1Portuguese Explorer Ferdinand Magellan 1stst European to sail Pacific IslandsEuropean to sail Pacific Islands

1564 AD1564 AD Mexican Conquistadors led by Miguel Lopez de Mexican Conquistadors led by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi sailed to Philippines and Mariana IslandsLegazpi sailed to Philippines and Mariana Islands

1642 AD1642 AD Dutchman Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania and Dutchman Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania and New ZealandNew Zealand

1818thth Century Century Russians, French, British Explorers arrive in the Russians, French, British Explorers arrive in the Pacific, notably James Cook. He made 3 voyages Pacific, notably James Cook. He made 3 voyages

and studied and mapped the Pacific Islands and studied and mapped the Pacific Islands extensively.extensively.

1919thth Century Century Occupation of many Islands by various European Occupation of many Islands by various European countries, USA and Japancountries, USA and Japan

1914 AD1914 AD Japan occupied much of the Western Pacific.Japan occupied much of the Western Pacific.

After WWII After WWII (1942)(1942)

Many of the Islands became independent.Many of the Islands became independent.

THE FIRST TO ARRIVE!!!!THE FIRST TO ARRIVE!!!!

• Believed to be first Believed to be first discovered in the Ice Age, discovered in the Ice Age, the Pacific Islands of the Pacific Islands of Melanesia where the first Melanesia where the first to be inhabited by people.to be inhabited by people.

• The people migrated from The people migrated from Southeast Asia.Southeast Asia.

• The Pacific Islands were The Pacific Islands were not as separated as they not as separated as they are today, due to lower sea are today, due to lower sea levels, which allowed the levels, which allowed the migrants to cross the migrants to cross the water in canoes and small water in canoes and small boats.boats.

MelanesiaMelanesia

• People native to Melanesia People native to Melanesia have distinctive dark skin have distinctive dark skin and tightly curled hair. and tightly curled hair.

• Original inhabitants Original inhabitants migrated to Melanesia area migrated to Melanesia area approx. 30,000 years ago.approx. 30,000 years ago.

• However Fiji has natives However Fiji has natives who resemble Polynesians, who resemble Polynesians, thought to be due to their thought to be due to their Indian ancestry.Indian ancestry.

Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and surrounding islands.

Melanesians comprise ¾ of the indigenous population of the islands.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN SOUTHEAST ASIAN HERITAGEHERITAGE

A small group of Melanesian A small group of Melanesian people are thought to of people are thought to of continued exploring, thus linking continued exploring, thus linking the islands of the Polynesia and the islands of the Polynesia and Micronesia regions genetically. Micronesia regions genetically. All of the native island people in All of the native island people in the Pacific have Southeast Asian the Pacific have Southeast Asian heritage. heritage.

Polynesians and Micronesians Polynesians and Micronesians are thought to be genetically are thought to be genetically linked to Melanesian ancestors, linked to Melanesian ancestors, however this is however this is contradictedcontradicted by by some studies. some studies.

Contradict: Disagree with or oppose.

MicronesiaMicronesia• People of Micronesia have People of Micronesia have

Mongoloid characteristics Mongoloid characteristics including:including:– Lighter skinLighter skin– Dark hair that is straight Dark hair that is straight

or wavy (not curled)or wavy (not curled)• On some islands however On some islands however

tan and dark-skinned tan and dark-skinned people, similar to people, similar to Melanesians can be found.Melanesians can be found.

• Micronesians generally live Micronesians generally live in coastal villages.in coastal villages.

• The Micronesian culture was The Micronesian culture was one of the last native one of the last native cultures to develop in the cultures to develop in the region.region.

Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Guam, Palau, Nauru etc.

Typical dwellings are thatched, single-room houses.

With separate cooking huts.

MONGOLOID: A term used to describe the people of East Asia.

MICRONESIA CONT.MICRONESIA CONT.

• The islands in the The islands in the Micronesia region would, be Micronesia region would, be ruled by Europeans quite ruled by Europeans quite early on.early on.

• By the early 20By the early 20thth century century the Micronesian islands the Micronesian islands would be colonised by the would be colonised by the U.S.A, Germany and the U.S.A, Germany and the British Empire.British Empire.

• Today, most of the Today, most of the Micronesian Islands are Micronesian Islands are independent, with the independent, with the exception of a few, e.g. exception of a few, e.g. Guam, which is governed Guam, which is governed by the U.S.A.by the U.S.A.

PolynesiaPolynesia

• Culture, language and Culture, language and physical appearance are physical appearance are very alike across all the very alike across all the islands in Polynesia.islands in Polynesia.

• Features are Mongoloid Features are Mongoloid and are generally taller and are generally taller and lighter – skinned than and lighter – skinned than Micronesians and Micronesians and Melanesians.Melanesians.

• Hair not curled, instead Hair not curled, instead either straight or wavy. either straight or wavy.

• Responsible for the Giant Responsible for the Giant Stone Statues on Easter Stone Statues on Easter Island.Island.

Tonga, Pitcairn, Hawaii, New Zealand and surrounding islands.

CULTURES OF POLYNESIACULTURES OF POLYNESIA

• Polynesia divides into two distinct Polynesia divides into two distinct cultural groups, East Polynesia and cultural groups, East Polynesia and West Polynesia.West Polynesia.

• The culture of West Polynesia is The culture of West Polynesia is conditioned to high populations. It has conditioned to high populations. It has strong institutions of marriage and strong institutions of marriage and well-developed judicial, monetary and well-developed judicial, monetary and trading traditions. trading traditions.

• Eastern Polynesian cultures are highly Eastern Polynesian cultures are highly adapted to smaller islands and atolls.adapted to smaller islands and atolls.

• The large islands of New Zealand The large islands of New Zealand were first settled by Eastern were first settled by Eastern Polynesians who adapted their culture Polynesians who adapted their culture to a non-tropical environment. to a non-tropical environment.

Tattoos Tattoos

• Tattoos were Tattoos were important to important to many Pacific many Pacific Island Cultures. Island Cultures. Here is a video Here is a video on the on the Polynesian Polynesian tattoo. tattoo.

People came to the Pacific Region over several thousand years. The origins of these people can be traced to :

•Southeast Asia

•Europe

•America

•China

•IndiaTODAY !!!

Many Vietnamese and Filipino people migrate to the Islands.

VENN DIAGRAMVENN DIAGRAM

Draw a Venn Diagram to compare the cultures/people of Melanesia and Polynesia

EUROPEAN EXPLORATIONEUROPEAN EXPLORATION

• Began in 16Began in 16thth Century by the 18 Century by the 18thth Century many of the islands were Century many of the islands were colonies of European countries, colonies of European countries, Japan, Germany and the USA.Japan, Germany and the USA.

• Japan had colonised much of the Japan had colonised much of the Western Pacific, after WWII when Western Pacific, after WWII when Japan was defeated, many of these Japan was defeated, many of these colonies became independent. colonies became independent.

WESTERN INFLUNCESWESTERN INFLUNCES• Many elements of western Many elements of western

lifestyle have been adopted lifestyle have been adopted including:including:– Styles of dressStyles of dress– Job typesJob types– Health and education Health and education

programsprograms– Agricultural and fishing Agricultural and fishing

techniquestechniques– Transportation and Transportation and – Telecommunications.Telecommunications.

• Most western influence in Most western influence in larger cities, still many more larger cities, still many more traditional areas particularly traditional areas particularly in centres of larger islands in centres of larger islands and on islands that are more and on islands that are more isolated. isolated.