Chapter 23

1. Chapter 23 Oceania: The Pacific Islands

2. Overview • First Europeans reported paradise- warm weather, sandy beaches, and tropical fruits • Some islanders still live off of main export—Copra– dried coconut meat • Have to deal with typhoons, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes • Islanders have gone through acculturation—exposure to values and lifestyle of another group of people and adopting those ways • Overall very open to evangelism • After WWII, islands became territories to help stabilize, now most, but not all, are independent again • Can be divided into 3 groups • Melanesia • Micronesia • Polynesia

3. I. Melanesia • Near Indonesia and Australia • Named “black islands” by French explorer who saw dark land rising from the green sea • Continental islands– separated from Australia by Pacific Ocean • Native peoples practiced head hunting and cannibalism • Taro- a potato like root is a favorite food • Last of all Pacific Islands to be visited by Europeans • Difficult to travel to – tricky currents, shallow waters • Includes: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu

4. Papua New Guinea • Two countries lie on the island of New Guinea—part of Indonesia and the eastern half is Papua New Guinea • Named after Papuan people- in Malay means “fuzzy-haired people” • Rugged mountain system, swamps and thick jungles cover the land • British came in 1874 after Captain Moresby found a harbor on the southern coast, settlers were actually missionaries wanting to reach the people • Capital: Port Moresby • More people live in PNG than any other Pacific Island combined • two major categories of tribal people • Lowlanders- coast • Highlanders- interior • 3 languages- English, TokPisin, and HiriMotu • Grand Valley in the interior kept a population of 1 million hidden until 1930 when Australian gold prospectors finally managed to reach the highlands • Travel is done mainly by boat or plane, no roads connecting the capital with the rest of the island • Economy: Cacao, copra, coffee and copper

5. Solomon Islands • Capital: Honiara • Spanish explorer Mendana expected to find riches, named after King Solomon in the Bible • Great Britain took control in 1893 to protect the islanders from being forced into slavery • English – official language—90 tribal languages • Guadalcanal- largest island, second most populous • 90% forest, less than 1% arable land • Battlefield sites visited by tourists- WWII US offensive

6. Vanuatu • Capital: Port-Vila • Chain of 12 volcanic islands • Subsistence economy- copra, cacao, coffee and fishing • Used to be called New Hebrides- named by Captain Cook (Hebrides Islands are off of Scotland) • gained independence in 1980 and changed name

7. Fiji • More than 800 scattered islands • ¾ of population live on VitiLevu(Big Island) • Capital: Suva, largest city • Before European settlers arrived, warring tribes of cannibals inhabited the islands • Cannibalism ended when chief Cakobau became a Christian • Great Britain protected for a while, but now independent • Known as the “crossroads of the South Pacific”

8. New Caledonia • Captain Cook discovered the islands and thought they looked like Scotland… Caledonia is Latin for Scotland • French sent prisoners to New Caledonia from 1853 to 1894 when they found nickel deposits beneath the mountains • Still a French overseas territory • Now one of the world’s leading producers of nickel • Second biggest industry is tourism, popular place for French cruises

9. II. Micronesia • Means “small islands” • Covers an area close the size of the US, land mass of about Rhode Island • 3 Groups • Caroline Islands, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands • Most are atolls—rings of coral on the submerged edges of a volcano • Coral islands are called low islands • Not good soil, dependant upon fishing or tourism • After WWII most were given to the US in the Trust Territory of the Pacific • Now are self-governed in “free association” with US • Control internal and foreign affairs, but US defends them • Islands help out foreign military forces

10. Caroline Islands • 930 islands total • Divided into 2 groups • Federated States of Micronesia • Kosrae: 97% Christian, volcanic island, known for citrus fruits • Pohnpei: forbidding terrain and heavy rainfall, city of Palikir is the capital of the Fed. States of Micronesia • Chuuk Islands (formerly Truk)and Yap Islands : site of Japanese bases in WWII, best wreck-diving in the world- more than 100 ships and planes sunk when US bombarded • Free association with US • Belau/Palau • Poverty stricken, made up 200 islands • Very dependent on imports • Capital: Koror

11. Mariana Islands • Stretch 350 miles • 14 islands, but 4 main, inhabited islands • Residents of the Marianas are US citizens • Cooler and drier climate that neighbor islands—grasslands to tropical forests • Guam • Largest island, most populous in Micronesia • Most of inhabitants are Japanese • territory of the US • Tinian • Second most populous island, but least developed • Major US air base—base from which planes dropped the atomic bombs • Saipan • Rota

12. Marshall Islands • 34 atolls and islands that split into 2 parallel chains • Capital: Majuro • Named for John Marshall- British sea captain who explored the area in 1788 • Bikini and Eniwetok atolls were used for nuclear testing… residents still waiting to be able to return home • Kwajalein- largest atoll in the world, encloses a 839 sq. mile lagoon • Home to Reagan Test Site—command and mission control center for intercontinental ballistic missiles

13. Other Micronesian Islands • Nauru • 3rd smallest country in the world (Vatican City and Monaco are smaller) • Capital: Yaren • 13,000 citizens, highest population density in the Pacific • No fresh water except rainwater, soil is extremely poor, but is prosperous and financially successful • 4/5 of island sits on deposit of high quality phosphate • Residents live solely off of the royalties from the government from the sale of phosphate—soon will be depleted

14. Other Micronesian Islands • Kiribati • Formerly called the Gilbert Islands • Capital: Bairiki • Straddles both the Equator and the International Date Line • Overcrowded, poor islands of people from Polynesia and Micronesia • Many are migrating to other Pacific islands

15. III. Polynesia • Means “many islands” • Islands are separated by thousands of miles, but common culture and languages unite them • Volcanic islands called High Islands • Hereditary chiefs ruled and spread Christianity rapidly as the chiefs converted • 4 island groups are independent, others remain closely tied to other countries • Tuvalu • Samoa Islands • Tonga • French Polynesia

16. Tuvalu • Means “cluster of eight”—actually consists of 9 low-lying atolls (one is uninhabited) • Capital: Funafuti • 4th smallest nation in the world • One of most undeveloped countries in the world • Soil is poor and islands have no mineral resources • Relies on aid from Australia, Great Britain, and Japan

17. Samoa Islands • Island chain has 2 parts • Unincorporated territory of the US (east of that line) • American Samoa- not citizens of US, but Nationals—can enter US freely • In much better economic shape than the country of Samoa—US built up local tuna canning industry • Independent country (west of 171*W) • Capital: Apia • Mostly volcanic islands with fertile soil for bananas, taro, and cacao • Christianity changed the war like society—John Williams first missionary to the area • Some families still live in fales—framed houses with roofs and open sides pg. 578

18. Tonga • Capital: Nuku'alofa • Oldest and last remaining kingdom in the Pacific • Most powerful chief took control over all the islands in 1845 and declared himself King George Tupou I • Constitutional Monarchy- gov. system • Methodist missionaries spread the gospel • Affected the government too—all trade, games and work is prohibited on Sunday • Suffer from overcrowding—Tongatapu Island is home to 2/3 of the population

19. French Polynesia • Includes 5 major island groups—most important: Society Islands- largest islands in the territory • Strong cultural and economic ties to France • In 1958 residents voted to remain part of France rather than become independent • Vote in French presidential elections • Elect representatives to the French Parliament • Majority of people live on island of Tahiti • Surrounded by coral reef creating a lagoon • Made up of 2 large volcanic mountains • Capital: Papeete • Tourism is major industry, traffic jams on the island are common

20. Other Polynesian Islands • Belong to New Zealand • Niue and Cook Islands • Belong to the US • Hawaiian Islands • Originally called the Sandwich Islands by discoverers • Midway Islands • Belongs to Great Britain • Pitcairn Islands pg. 579 • Most famous mutiny in naval history • HMS Bounty sent to Tahiti • Captain Bligh and 18 loyals sailors were sent adrift • Mutineers hid out on Pitcairn Island • Belongs to Chile • Easter Island pg. 580 • Discovered on Easter 1772 • 2600 miles off the coast of Chile • Rows of mysterious heads= moai