NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Polynesian culture

Polynesian culture refers to the aboriginal culture of the Polynesian-speaking peoples of Polynesia and the Polynesian outliers. Chronologically, the development of Polynesian culture can be divided into four different historical eras: The term indigenous peoples has no universal, standard or fixed definition, but can be used about any ethnic group who inhabit the geographic region with which they have the earliest historical connection. ... Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning to cultivate), generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... The Polynesian languages are a group of related languages spoken in the region known as Polynesia. ... Carving from the ridgepole of a MÄori house, ca 1840 Polynesia (from Greek: Ï€Î¿Î»ÏÏ‚ many, Î½á¿†ÏƒÎ¿Ï‚ island) is a large grouping of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. ... Polynesian outliers are a number of Polynesian islands which lie in Melanesia and Micronesia. ...

1800 (MDCCC) was an exceptional common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. ... // Events Saint Adamnan convinces 51 kings to adopt CÃ¡in AdomnÃ¡in defining the relationship between women and priests. ... Events January 30 - William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is performed for the first time. ... Combatants Major Allied powers: United Kingdom France Soviet Union United States Republic of China and others Major Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Winston Churchill Charles de Gaulle Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Chiang Kai-Shek Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tojo Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ...

Origins, Exploration and Settlement (c. 1800 B.C. - c. 700 A.D.)

Recent maternal mitochondrial DNA analysis suggests that Polynesians, including Tongans, Samoans, Niueans, Cook Islanders, Tahitians, Hawaiians, Marquesans and Māori, are genetically linked to indigenous peoples of parts of Southeast Asia including those of Taiwan. This DNA evidence is supported by linguistic and archaeological evidence (see Sutton 1994, cited in References section below, for discussion of Eastern Polynesian origins, New Zealand Māori in particular). Recent studies into paternal Y chromosome analysis shows that Polynesians are also genetically linked to peoples of Melanesia (see "Melanesian Origin of Polynesian Y Chromosomes" and "Melanesian Origin of Polynesian Y Chromosomes (correction)" cited in References). Therefore it is current belief that the Polynesian people are a hybrid race between indigenous peoples of parts of Southeast Asia and peoples of Melanesia. Between about 3000 and 1000 BC speakers of Austronesian languages spread through island South-East Asia – almost certainly starting out from Taiwan – into the edges of western Micronesia and on into Melanesia. In the archaeological record there are well-defined traces of this expansion which allow the path it took to be followed and dated with a degree of certainty. In the mid 2nd millennium BC a distinctive culture appeared suddenly in north-west Melanesia, in the Bismarck Archipelago, the chain of islands forming a great arch from New Britain to the Admiralty Islands. This culture, known as Lapita, stands out in the Melanesian archeological record, with its large permanent villages on beach terraces along the coasts. Particularly characterisitic of the Lapita culture is the making of pottery, including a great many vessels of varied shapes, some distinguished by fine patterns and motifs pressed into the clay. Within a mere three or four centuries between about 1300 and 900 BC, the Lapita culture spread 6000 km further to the east from the Bismarck Archipelago, until it reached as far as Tonga and Samoa. In this region, the distinctive Polynesian culture developed. 1800 (MDCCC) was an exceptional common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, but a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. ... // Events Saint Adamnan convinces 51 kings to adopt CÃ¡in AdomnÃ¡in defining the relationship between women and priests. ... // Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is DNA that is located in mitochondria. ... Languages MÄori, English Religions MÄori religion, Christianity Related ethnic groups other Polynesian peoples, Austronesian peoples The word MÄori refers to the indigenous people of New Zealand and their language. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Genetic fingerprinting, DNA testing, DNA typing, and DNA profiling are techniques used to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. Its invention by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester was announced in 1985. ... The human Y chromosome is one of two sex chromosomes, it contains the genes that cause testis development, thus determining maleness. ... Map showing Melanesia. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Map showing Melanesia. ... Map showing Melanesia. ... The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the northeastern coast of New Guinea in the western Pacific Ocean, named in honour of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck and belonging to Papua New Guinea. ... (This article is about the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea. ... The Admiralty Islands are a group of 18 islands in the Bismarck Archipelago. ... Lapita is the common name of an ancient Pacific Ocean culture which is believed by some to be the common ancestor of several cultures in Polynesia and surrounding areas. ...

The early Polynesians were an adventurous seafaring people with highly-developed navigation skills. They colonised previously-unsettled islands by making very long canoe voyages, in some cases against the prevailing winds and tides. Polynesian navigators steered by the sun and the stars, and by careful observations of cloud reflections and bird flight patterns,were able to determine the existence and location of islands. The name given to a star or constellation taken as a mark to steer by was kaweinga. The discovery of new islands and island groups was by means of entire small villages of people setting sail on great Polynesian double-hulled canoes. Archaeological evidence indicates that by about 700 A.D., the Polynesians had settled the vast Polynesian triangle with its northern corner at Hawai'i, the eastern corner at Rapa Nui (Easter Island), and the southern corner in New Zealand. By comparison, Viking navigators first settled Iceland around 875AD. A navigator is the person onboard a ship responsible for the navigation of the vessel. ... The Polynesian Triangle is a geographical region of the Pacific Ocean anchored by Hawaii, Rapa Nui and New Zealand. ... State nickname: The Aloha State Other U.S. States Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Governor Linda Lingle Official languages Hawaiian and English Area 28,337 km² (43rd) - Land 16,649 km² - Water 11,672 km² (41. ... Easter Island and its location Easter Island (Polynesian: Rapa Nui (Great Rapa), Spanish: Isla de Pascua) is an island in the south Pacific Ocean belonging to Chile. ... The term Viking commonly denotes the ship-borne explorers, traders, and warriors of the Norsemen (literally, men from the north) who originated in Scandinavia and raided the coasts of the British Isles, France and other parts of Europe as far east as the Volga River in Russia from the late...

There are suggestions that Polynesian voyagers reached the South American mainland and made contact with indigenous South Americans. The sweet potato, known in Polynesian languages as kumara or kumala is widely grown around the Pacific but originated in the Andes. There is no evidence that Pacific peoples actually settled on the South American mainland or that South American peoples voyaged into the Pacific.

Pre-European growth: (c. 700 to 1595)

While the early Polynesians were skilled navigators, most evidence indicates that their primary exploratory motivation was to ease the demands of burgeoning populations. Polynesian mythology does not speak of explorers bent on conquest of new territories, but rather of heroic discoverers of new lands for the benefit of those who voyaged with them. Polynesia (meaning many islands in Greek) is a triangular grouping of Central and South Pacific Ocean island archipelagos settled by seafaring voyagers from the original heartland in Tonga and Samoa. ...

While further influxes of immigrants from other Polynesian islands sometimes augmented the growth and development of the local population, for the most part, each island or island group's culture developed in isolation. There was no widespread inter-island group communication, nor is there much indication during this period of any interest in such communications, at least not for economic reasons. This fact makes all the more astounding the limited linguistic entropy of the Polynesian languages. The Polynesian languages are a group of related languages spoken in the region known as Polynesia. ...

During the period following complete settlement of Polynesia, each local population developed politically in diverse ways, from fully-developed kingdoms in some islands and island groups, to constantly-warring tribes or extended family groups between various sections of islands, or in some cases, even within the same valleys on various islands. Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ...

While it is likely that population pressures caused tensions between various groups, the primary force that seems to have driven unity or division among tribes and family groups is geophysical: on low islands, where communications are essentially unimpeded, there does not appear to have developed any widely-observable incidence of conflict. A low island is, in geology (and sometimes in archaeology), an island of coral origin. ...

Meanwhile, on most high islands, there were, historically, warring groups inhabiting various districts, usually delimited primarily by mountain ridges, with carefully drawn lowland boundaries. Early on, however, many such islands developed a united social and political structure, usually under the leadership of a strong monarch. An example is the Marquesas Islands, where unlike other high-island groups in Polynesia, the Marquesas are not surrounded by fringing coral reefs, and consequently, have no low coastal plains. Every valley in the Marquesas is accessible to other valleys only via boat, or by travelling over steep mountain ridges. The warring groups in the Marquesas Islands continued to massacre members of enemy tribes well into the 19th century. High Island is the name of several places in the United States: Communities High Island, Texas Islands High Island (Michigan) High Island (New York) High Island (Connecticut) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Look up monarch in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... National motto: Mauâ€˜uâ€˜u haâ€˜e iti Official languages French, Tahitian Political status Dependent territory, administrative division of French Polynesia Capital Tai o Hae Largest City Tai o Hae Area 1,274 kmÂ² ( 492 sq. ... Part of a coral reef. ... In geography, a coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. ...

European discovery and colonization, until World War II (1595 to 1945)

The first Polynesian islands visited by European explorers were the Marquesas Islands, first discovered by Europeans when the Spanish navigator, Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira, found the islands in 1595. World map showing Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... National motto: Mauâ€˜uâ€˜u haâ€˜e iti Official languages French, Tahitian Political status Dependent territory, administrative division of French Polynesia Capital Tai o Hae Largest City Tai o Hae Area 1,274 kmÂ² ( 492 sq. ... Ãlvaro de MendaÃ±a de Neira Ãlvaro de MendaÃ±a de Neira or Neyra (1541 - November 1595) was a Spanish navigator. ... Events January 30 - William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is performed for the first time. ...

Because of the paucity of mineral or gemological resources, the exploration of Polynesia by European navigators (whose primary interest was economic), was of little more than passing interest. The great navigator Captain James Cook was the first to attempt to explore as much of Polynesia as possible. Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... Gemology (gemmology outside the United States) is the science, art and profession of identifying and evaluating gemstones. ... James Cook, portrait by Nathaniel Dance, c. ...

Following the initial European contacts with Polynesia, a great number of changes occurred within Polynesian culture, mostly as a result of colonization by European powers, the introduction of a large number of alien diseases to which the Polynesians had no immunity, slaving ventures to supply plantations in South America, and an influx of Christian missionaries, many of whom regarded the Polynesians as descendants of the lost tribes of Israel. In many cases, colonizing powers, usually under pressure from missionary elements, forcibly suppressed native cultural expression, including the use of the native Polynesian languages. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Colonialism. ... A disease or medical condition is an abnormality of the body or mind that causes discomfort, dysfunction, distress, or death to the person afflicted or those in contact with the person. ... This article is becoming very long. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... A missionary is traditionally defined as a propagator of religion who works to convert those outside that community; someone who proselytizes. ... An Israelite is a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of the Biblical patriarch Jacob who was renamed Israel by God in the book of Genesis, 32:28 The Israelites were a group of Hebrews, as described in the Bible. ... The Polynesian languages are a group of related languages spoken in the region known as Polynesia. ...

By the early 1900s, almost all of Polynesia was colonized or occupied to various degrees by Western colonial powers, as follows:

However Tonga (or the "Friendly Islands") maintained its independence, at least nominally. Meanwhile, all of the Polynesian outliers were subsumed into the sometimes-overlapping territorial claims of Japan, the United Kingdom and France. motto: ( Rapa Nui ) Also called Te Pito O Te Henua (Ombligo del mundo) (Navel of the world) Discovered by Europeans April 5, 1722 by Jakob Roggeveen Capital Hanga Roa Area - City Proper 163,6 kmÂ² Population - City (2005) - Density (city proper) 3. ... Motto: Faavae i le Atua Samoa (Samoan: Samoa is founded on God) Anthem: The Banner of Freedom Capital (and largest city) Apia Samoan, English Government Monarchy - O le Ao o le Malo Malietoa Tanumafili II - Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi Independence from New Zealand - Date 1 January 1962... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area Ranked 43rd - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 kmÂ²) - Width n/a miles (n/a km) - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km) - % water 41. ... The Line Islands are a group of mostly atolls in the central Pacific Ocean, south of the Hawaiian Islands. ... The Phoenix Islands are a group of 1 million atolls, plus two submerged coral reefs in the central Pacific Ocean, east of the Gilbert Islands and west of the Line Islands. ... Polynesian outliers are a number of Polynesian islands which lie in Melanesia and Micronesia. ...

During World War II, a number of Polynesian islands played critical roles. The critical attack which brought the United States into the war, was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in south-central Oahu, Hawaii. Combatants United States Empire of Japan Commanders Husband Kimmel (USN), Walter Short (USA) Chuichi Nagumo (IJN), Mitsuo Fuchida (IJNAS) (1st aerial wave), Shigekazu Shimazaki (IJNAS) (2nd aerial wave) Strength 8 battleships, 8 cruisers, 29 destroyers, 9 submarines, ~50 other ships, ~390 planes 6 aircraft carriers, 9 destroyers, 2 battleships, 2... OÊ»ahu (usually Oahu outside Hawaiian and Hawaiian English), the Gathering Place, is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous island in the State of Hawaii. ... Official language(s) English, Hawaiian Capital Honolulu Largest city Honolulu Area Ranked 43rd - Total 10,931 sq mi (29,311 kmÂ²) - Width n/a miles (n/a km) - Length 1,522 miles (2,450 km) - % water 41. ...

A number of islands were developed by the Allies as military bases, especially by the American forces, including as far east as Bora Bora. Look up ally in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A military base is a facility, settlement, reservation, or installation that shelters military equipment and personnel. ... Mount Otemanu, Bora Bora Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort, Bora Bora Frigate Flor al, stationned in Bora-Bora lagoon Bora Bora is an atoll in French Polynesia, about 260 km northwest of the capital, Papeete. ...

Modern times/After World War II (1945 to present)

Following World War II, political change came more slowly to the islands of Polynesia than to the other parts of overseas colonies of European powers. Although sovereignty was granted by royal proclamation to New Zealand as early as 1907, this did not go into full effect until 1947. 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

Following in independence were the nations (and the sovereign powers from which they obtained complete political independence) of:

The remaining islands are still under official sovereignty of the following nations: 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). ...

The various outliers lie within the sovereign territory of the nations of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the French territory of New Caledonia. motto: ( Rapa Nui ) Also called Te Pito O Te Henua (Ombligo del mundo) (Navel of the world) Discovered by Europeans April 5, 1722 by Jakob Roggeveen Capital Hanga Roa Area - City Proper 163,6 kmÂ² Population - City (2005) - Density (city proper) 3. ... Howland Island Howland Island is an uninhabited atoll located just north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean at 0Â°48â€²N 176Â°38â€²W, about 3,100 km (1,675 nautical miles) southwest of Honolulu. ... Baker Island is an uninhabited atoll located just north of the equator in the central Pacific Ocean at 0Â°13â€²N 176Â°31â€²W, about 3,100 km (1,675 nautical miles) southwest of Honolulu. ... The flag of the US is used on Jarvis Island Map of Jarvis Island Jarvis Island is an uninhabited 4. ... Map of Palmyra Atoll Orthographic projection over Palmyra Atoll Palmyra Atoll, is an incorporated atoll administered by the United States government. ...

Independence and/or increasing autonomy is not the only influence affecting modern Polynesian society. The primary driving forces are, in fact, the ever-increasing accessibility of the islands to outside influences, through improved air communications as well as through vastly improved telecommunications capabilities. The economic importance of tourism has also had a tremendous impact on the direction of the development of the various island societies. Accessibility of outside sources, as well as the tourism viability of individual islands has played an important role to which the modern culture has adapted itself to accommodating the interests of outsiders, as opposed to the influences of those intent upon promoting the retention of native traditions. Because of this, Polynesia is today an area in varying degrees of extreme cultural flux. Tourists at Oahu island, Hawaii Tourism is the act of travel for predominantly recreational or leisure purposes, and also refers to the provision of services in support of this act. ...

In the genetics of Polynesians today, the gene pool is mixed with many different peoples. Hawaii for example had a high influx of Asians such as Filipinos, Koreans, Japanese, and Chinese during the late 1800's and into the 1900's for plantation work. In modern society, pure Polynesians are rare to find.

References

Encyclopedia > Polynesian culture

Contents

Origins, Exploration and Settlement (c. 1800 B.C. - c. 700 A.D.)

Pre-European growth: (c. 700 to 1595)

European discovery and colonization, until World War II (1595 to 1945)

Modern times/After World War II (1945 to present)

References

See also