The expansion of Polynesia across the Pacific occurred a long time ago, which historians believe took more than over 2000 years for Polynesian expansion to arise and cover a massive amount of the Pacific region. The arrival of first Polynesians in New Zealand, were from the South Pacific and were the first to discover the subcontinent of New Zealand. Polynesian explorers had settled into New Zealand by the thirteenth century, arriving during the year approximately 1280. Most of the Polynesian settlement occurred along the coast, which can now be recognised as the region of Otago. Overall, this essay will include information about Polynesian expansion across the Pacific, the arrival of first Polynesians into New Zealand, as well as theories …show more content…
The ocean was an important aspect in their lives and connecting with the water allowed them to prosper and see the importance of the ocean especially living life and surviving using natural resources. There are many tales which depict Polynesians as sea voyagers who look to closely observe stars, as well as tell the directions of winds through the feel of the water. The placement of stars in the sky were an important tool that the Polynesians used to tell them where to go and in what directions. They had knowledge of patterns of stars, which would ultimately change throughout the year, and this enabled them to have a significant amount of understandings of how to travel to new places. Polynesians were able to find their ways across the Pacific without the assistance of modern technology or equipment. Knowledge of these traditional navigations is based on the observations early Europeans had on the …show more content…
According to Maori scholar Peter Buck also known as Te Rangi Hiroa, the idea created by Percy Smith that first Polynesians first made contact in New Zealand, was widely accepted by Maori and Pakeha people in New Zealand. This statement remained successful until the 1970s. However, a new scientific procedure known as radiocarbon dating as well as advanced and new research and analysations from Percy Smith, had proposed that Maori, the first Polynesians had arrived and settled in New Zealand in the early 800 AD rather than 750 AD. New speculations now propose that New Zealand had been settled later than first assumed, and by people who arrived from the Southern Cook and Society
Ii, John Papa., Mary Kawena Pukui, and Dorothy B. Barrère. Fragments of Hawaiian History. Honolulu: Bishop Museum, 1983. Print.
To navigate during the night and day they looked out for well-known landmarks such as mountains. They could also follow the sun and stars or watch out for birds that were found at different times and places of the year. Navigators were needed in the time of Vikings as they were the key to successful voyages. Without them Vikings would have never been able to sail across Western Europe and leave an impact that would actually make way into our history. Therefore their would of not been any impact to live on today. One example was when the Viking found their way into the Mediterranean Sea and raided the coasts of Spain but of course with the help of navigation. In addition to navigation, religion also did impact.
It's impossible to teach someone the significance or the act of loving the stars and the ocean, but that's what makes navigation without instruments (wayfinding) so beautiful. One can "give the heavens a meaning of his own" says Nainoa Thompson. Anyone can learn the aspects of navigation through personal observation and the study of charts and maps. Creative thinking and logic are two important skills in learning the ancient art of wayfinding. It is inspiring to think of how much water the Polynesians covered in the Pacific, over one million square miles, in a time frame of about 1000 years.
Thurston, Lorrin A. “A hand-book on the annexation of Hawaii.” Foreign and Commonwealth Office Collection (1897).
Jovik, Sonia P. and James O. Jovik. (1997). “History.” Atlas of Hawaii. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, p.408.
I am Native Hawaiian and reside in Orange City, Florida. My ancestors were the first people who settled in Hawaii around 500 AD to 750 AD. They were Polynesians who came from the Marquesas Island in large boat-like canoes. The Canoe had a person who was the navigator. The navigator was a person who was able to read the stars and the sky as direction. These people were able to tell if there was land ahead even before they were able to see land from the canoe. A few years later, people from Tahiti and the other smaller Hawaiian Islands settled in Hawaii. They settled in Hawaii 2000 years ago.
...an immensely impressive fleet. There is no doubt they were able to travel past Sumatra, India, Iran and the coast of Africa so the same question asked regarding the Polynesians appears, Why would they just stop there? Moreover, there is a map showing the entire world fairly accurately that was drawn in 1763, whose maker wrote that he had copied it from a map drawn in 1418 A.D., centuries earlier. This map and the claim attached to it has not been proven as of yet, however, if it is authentic it would be the first map of the world.
The Hawaiian language may have been influenced by from a South Pacific Polynesian language, most likely Tahitian or Marquesan. The Marquesans took over the Hawaiian islands around AD 300, and Tahitian peoples immigrated to Hawaii. The unification of the Hawaiian and Tahitian languages may have resulted into the development of the Hawaiian language. The word “Hawaiian” takes its name from the big island of Hawaii, which was explored by the British settler Captain James Cook. He wrote the name of the island as “Owhyhee.” Upon his arrival in Hawaii in 1778, he hoped to induce linguistic, educational, and cultural influences to the inhabitants of Hawaii. After Captain Cook arrived in Hawaii, others followed him, such as missionaries from the United States. In the early 19th century, the missionaries from the United States wanted to educate the Hawaiians, and had to translate the spoken Hawaiian language into a written form. Hiram Bingham, one of the missionaries that arrived in Hawaii noticed that “Hawaiians struggled with the very different sound patterns of English: a plethora of consonant clus...
The gods and their fighting are responsible for much of the weather. Tawhiri, who is the god of wind, creates the winds and hurricanes. Tane is a god specifically for forests, typical of a tropical island. Tangaroa is the god of the sea, given that the Polynesians are an island culture. He accounts for the waves and whirlpools. Rangi and Papa’s tears due to separation are responsible for rain and dew in the mornings. (“Creation Myth – Maori”) The Polynesian diet consists of many organic roots and crops. Rongo is the god of sweet potato and other cultivated foods, illustrating the importance of sweet potato itself, being that it has its own god. Rongo also means “peace,” further strengthening the importance of their agricultural lifestyle. (“Maori Gods and Goddesses”) There is also a god for fern root and wild edible plants, named Haumia. Earthquakes are explained in the creation myth as well. The Polynesian are located in the Ring of Fire, an area in the Pacific of active volcanoes and earthquakes, which explains it scientifically. However, in their creation myth, Hine Timata’s son, Ruaumoko, causes earthquakes when he walks around in the Underworld. The creation of New Zealand segments provides a detailed explanation of the mountainous formation of the island, due to Maui’s mischievousness and the inability of his brother’s to follow orders. The Polynesians have carefully supplied explanations and corresponding gods and goddesses for each part of their culture and environment. Much of the Maori creation myths intertwine emotion and divinity together to form realistic situations on a larger scale in order to explain the formation of the world the Maoris know
Butcher, M. (August 2003). “Who is Maori? Who is Pakeha?” In North &South Magazine. New Zealand.
The Age of Exploration began as a result of new technologies that guided explorers during sea voyages. Explorers used many tools and technologies during The Age of Exploration, to explore and make discoveries. Technology and tools that explorers used, included, caravels, compasses, astrolabes, and even sponsors. A sponsor is a person who gives money for an undertaking, such as a voyage. A sponsor would also provide money for materials needed for the voyage, such as, caravels, and other necessities. A caravel is probably the most important material needed for a voyage. A caravel is a ship designed for long voyages. Caravels have both square sails, and triangular lateen sails. However, they each provided/allowed different things. Square sails provided power, when lateen sails allowed quick turns. The compass, a Chinese invention, allowed sailors to track their direction. On the other hand, an astrolabe, an ancient Greek invention, improvised by the Arabs, would measure the angle of the stars above the horizon. This would help sailors find their s...
"New Zealand Culture - Maori." New Zealand Travel and New Zealand Business. Tourism New Zealand, 2011. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. .
The history of New Zealand begins between 800 A.D. and 1300 A.D., when the Māori people arrived from Polynesia to the mountainous island they called “Aotearoa.” The people “lived in tribal groups” fairly peacefully (Wilson). However, life began to change for the Māori people when they first came into contact with a European in 1642, when Dutch explorer Abel Tasman “discovered” the island. In 1769, “[James] Cook successfully circumnavigated and mapped the country” (History). These explorations marked the beginning of Europeanization for the young country of New Zealand. Whalers and traders soon arrived, and missionaries arrived in 1814. When the Māori met with Europeans, events followed a similar path to the colonization of America and the decimation of the native populations-- “contribution of guns…, along with European diseases, led to a steep decline in the [population of] Māori people.” (History). Consequentially, “their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights,” in...
According to Jackson (1988), the persistent myth that no real law existed in New Zealand prior to 1840, is a racist and colonising myth used to justify the imposition of ongoing application of law from Britain. Pre-European Maori society regulated behaviour and punished wrongdoings through the sanction of muru. Jackson defines muru as, “a legalised system of plundering as penalty for offences, which in a rough way resembled (the Pakeha) law by which a man is obliged to pay damages” (p.40). Due to the law brought and imposed by settlers, it rendered Maori’s values, ways of thinking, and living. This essay aims to discuss the Maori social and cultural values expressed in the sanction muru. Furthermore, how the British opposition to the use of
The first people to settle New Zealand came over from east Polynesia by canoe during the 10th century. These people were called the Maori. According to a Maori legend, a man may have arrived in New Zealand during about 950 ad, but this can not be proven. The Maori people lived on the Island on native fruits and vegetables and animals, and they also brought over plants and livestock from Polynesia. The Maori were usually peaceful, but sometimes had wars over the best land. They lived in earth-made structures similar to the adobes of Mexico.