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Polynesia Culture
By: Mackenzie Smith
During the early time period of human development we begin to see the immerging of a unique civilization, the Polynesians. Their culture stretched from New Guinea to the islands of Hawaii. They were able to travel and explore the ocean using wave finders, domesticating plants and animals, and believing in a higher power.
From the foundation of time to 600 B.C there wasn’t just one person from Polynesia that stood out but rather a whole culture, the wave finders. These people started in New Guinea and moved east toward Fiji and Tonga. As they sailed to each new island they got further away from the rest of the world and had to develop their own means of navigating the ocean. The wave finder’s highly sophisticated navigational system involved observing the stars, the ocean smells, and the flight pattern of birds. They also had to bring along domesticate plants and animals in their canoes so they could transplant them on the new islands. The wave finders were truly amazing cultures that developed almost completely in isolation.
Again there is not one specific event but rather events over time that makes the Polynesian culture so unique. One of these events being the domestication of pigs, chickens, and dogs. When the wave finders moved from island to island they were not sure if the new island would have any resources including food. This was a problem that would force Polynesians to develop animals that could fit on canoes and serve as food if needed. Along with animals Polynesians also domesticated plants. This moved them from a hunter gather society to agricultural. This aloud the people to spend more time practicing their wave finding and developing other technologies.
Throughout the Polynesian culture you are able to see trends in their view of religion. They feel that everything they do if for god and they most please him. You are able to see this trend even in modern times, Polynesian dedicate dances and feast to god. Toward the 18th and 19th centuries you are also able to see how influenced they are by god when catholic missionaries came to the Oceania. They also believe that politics and religion are one and should be intertwined with each other. Another trend in the Oceania region is movement. The people of these islands are always moving and find new islands to inhibit. Although not at this time period Polynesia and its culture would eventually become the biggest empire not in land but in vast space.
In the Polynesian culture there is little information form the foundation to 600 B.C but what is there is vital to the understanding to this unique culture. They were able to navigate thousands of miles without any maps, domesticate animals, and start a culture that would last for thousands of years. They are truly amazing when you think about all they accomplished being isolated for the rest of the world.
During the early time period of human development we begin to see the immerging of a unique civilization, the Polynesians. Their culture stretched from New Guinea to the islands of Hawaii. They were able to travel and explore the ocean using wave finders, domesticating plants and animals, and believing in a higher power.
From the foundation of time to 600 B.C there wasn’t just one person from Polynesia that stood out but rather a whole culture, the wave finders. These people started in New Guinea and moved east toward Fiji and Tonga. As they sailed to each new island they got further away from the rest of the world and had to develop their own means of navigating the ocean. The wave finder’s highly sophisticated navigational system involved observing the stars, the ocean smells, and the flight pattern of birds. They also had to bring along domesticate plants and animals in their canoes so they could transplant them on the new islands. The wave finders were truly amazing cultures that developed almost completely in isolation.
Again there is not one specific event but rather events over time that makes the Polynesian culture so unique. One of these events being the domestication of pigs, chickens, and dogs. When the wave finders moved from island to island they were not sure if the new island would have any resources including food. This was a problem that would force Polynesians to develop animals that could fit on canoes and serve as food if needed. Along with animals Polynesians also domesticated plants. This moved them from a hunter gather society to agricultural. This aloud the people to spend more time practicing their wave finding and developing other technologies.
Throughout the Polynesian culture you are able to see trends in their view of religion. They feel that everything they do if for god and they most please him. You are able to see this trend even in modern times, Polynesian dedicate dances and feast to god. Toward the 18th and 19th centuries you are also able to see how influenced they are by god when catholic missionaries came to the Oceania. They also believe that politics and religion are one and should be intertwined with each other. Another trend in the Oceania region is movement. The people of these islands are always moving and find new islands to inhibit. Although not at this time period Polynesia and its culture would eventually become the biggest empire not in land but in vast space.
In the Polynesian culture there is little information form the foundation to 600 B.C but what is there is vital to the understanding to this unique culture. They were able to navigate thousands of miles without any maps, domesticate animals, and start a culture that would last for thousands of years. They are truly amazing when you think about all they accomplished being isolated for the rest of the world.