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Themes FOUNDATION TO 600 C.E.
1.Interaction between humans and the environmentWhen viewing the interaction between humans and the environment, those traveling into Oceania had to have knowledge of the sea. They migrated along the coasts and moved inland as tides began to rise. Techonologies such as canoes were needed to travel to islands, and well as tools for hunting.
| Examples-When the Aborigines settled into Australia they walked through on the land bridge that was at the time connected to Southeast Asia. The settled near the coast and as the tides rose around them they began to move more inland.
-The Lapita people traveled through many of the islands on canoes they had built and needed to be well aware of the see for there were no compases or maps at their disposal. |
2. Development and Interaction Between CultureBecause of the wide expanses between different island in Polynesia and SE Asia, it is hard to isolate one religion or belief system. This is probably one of the most unique features of the Oceania. There were not many advances in house making, but there were great works of architecture. Budhism was also expanding through south India, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
| Examples Vietnam, Korea, and Japan all in this time period were influenced by Buddhism. Easter Island had its own religion based on ancestors and the "birdman". Many Polynesian nobilities tried to work with nature instead of against it.
One of the most significant architectural achievements would be the moai, or Easter Island head statues. |
VocabularyMoai: The Easter Island Statues that represent bodies submerged in sand. Were used to represent ancesters and also clan power on the island.
Birdman: The god like title that was awarded to a competitor for power in Easter Island. By:Bailee Lawrence |
3.State Building, Expansion and ConflictExpansion is the most prevalent theme in this time period for Polynesia. It is filled with the movements of cultures and the expanding of empires.There were many different forms of government and political structure
| ExamplesThe Wave finders were a group of people who navigated their way from island to island by just looking at the waves. They were able to expand civilization through many islands.
The Rapanui were the people of the Havi region that after a divine dream, according to legend, were sent to Easter Island. The Melanesians also passed through and settled in Fiji while other Polynesians expanded to Australia, Society Island, Samoa Island and more. SE Asia took its political structure ideas from China, enforcing large government with powerful rulers Easter Island had an absolute monarchy, where power was passed down from lineage |
4. Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic SystemsSome countries in Polynesia and South East Asia, used a slave labor system while others promoted their labor through encouragment. Trade expanded in Southeast Asia during 150-550 C.E. Cambodia started trade with Rome, ancient and near east, India and China. Samoa also flourished with trade in Polynesia, being this trading networks central with Tonga and Fiji.
| ExamplesEaster Island had a labor force based on a social contract. In return, the artisans were rewarded with food. Food was generally the large birds or fish that surrounded the island. The wave finders changed from a hunting gatherer society to agriculture when they domesticated animals
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5.Development and Transformation of Societal StructureEaster Island had a large focus on kinship for a long time. Trade expanded in Southeast Asia during 150-550 C.E. Cambodia started trade with Rome, ancient and near east, India and China. Samoa also flourished with trade in Polynesia, being this trading networks central with Tonga and Fiji. This boosted both of these contries economies.
| Examples
Power over land and people was passed down from fathers to children. The clans that made the island were first made when Huta, the first King died, and left his land to his eight children.
Multiple trading networks in Polynesia and Cambodia rising up in the begging of the 1st century. |