World History
History of Kiribati. This is a short but well written essay which gives an overview to the history of Kiribati.
From the site:
The I-Kiribati people settled what would become known as the Gilbert Islands between 1000 and 1300 AD. Subsequent invasions by Fijians and Tongans introduced Micronesian and Polynesian elements to the Micronesian culture, but extensive intermarriage has produced a population reasonably homogeneous in appearance and traditions.
European contact began in the 16th century. Whalers, slave traders, and merchant vessels arrived in great numbers in the 1800s, fomenting local tribal conflicts and introducing often fatal European diseases. In an effort to restore a measure of order, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (the Ellice Islands are now known as Tuvalu) consented to becoming British protectorates in 1892. Banaba (Ocean Island) was annexed in 1900 after the discovery of phosphate-rich guano deposits, and the entire collection was made a British colony in 1916. The Line and Phoenix Islands were incorporated piecemeal over the next 20 years.
Japan seized the islands during World War II. In November 1943, U.S. forces assaulted heavily fortified Japanese positions on Tarawa Atoll in the Gilberts, resulting in some of the bloodiest fighting of the Pacific campaign. The battle was a turning point in the Central Pacific.
Britain began expanding self-government in the islands during the 1960s. In 1975 the Ellice Islands separated from the colony and in 1978 became the independent country of Tuvalu. The Gilberts obtained internal self-government in 1977, and formally became an independent nation on July 12, 1979, under the name of Kiribati.
- The Settlement Of Polynesia
This is a two part essay on human migration in Polynesia. It includes The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 1 and The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 2. It was written by Dennis Kawaharada. Some of the islands of Oceania were among the last habitable land areas...
- History Of Palmyra Atoll
History of Palmyra Atoll. This is a history of the small American island group known as Palmyra Atoll. Wikipedia notes that, "Palmyra Atoll is an uninhabited, 12 km2 (4.6 mi2) atoll in the Northern Pacific Ocean at 5°52? N 162°6? W. Palmyra is one...
- History Of Solomon Islands
History of Solomon Islands. This is an overview to the history of the Pacific island nation of the Solomon Islands. From the site: Although little prehistory of the Solomon Islands is known, material excavated on Santa Ana, Guadalcanal, and Gawa indicates...
- History Of Palau
History of Palau. This is a very brief history of the Pacific Island nation of Palau. This nation is hosting the American television series Survivor in 2005. From the site: Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants...
- History Of Cayman Islands
History of Cayman Islands. This is a brief essay on the history of this beautiful Caribbean tax haven. From the site: The Cayman Islands remained largely uninhabited until the 17th century. A variety of people settled on the islands, including...
World History
History of Kiribati
History of Kiribati. This is a short but well written essay which gives an overview to the history of Kiribati.
From the site:
The I-Kiribati people settled what would become known as the Gilbert Islands between 1000 and 1300 AD. Subsequent invasions by Fijians and Tongans introduced Micronesian and Polynesian elements to the Micronesian culture, but extensive intermarriage has produced a population reasonably homogeneous in appearance and traditions.
European contact began in the 16th century. Whalers, slave traders, and merchant vessels arrived in great numbers in the 1800s, fomenting local tribal conflicts and introducing often fatal European diseases. In an effort to restore a measure of order, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (the Ellice Islands are now known as Tuvalu) consented to becoming British protectorates in 1892. Banaba (Ocean Island) was annexed in 1900 after the discovery of phosphate-rich guano deposits, and the entire collection was made a British colony in 1916. The Line and Phoenix Islands were incorporated piecemeal over the next 20 years.
Japan seized the islands during World War II. In November 1943, U.S. forces assaulted heavily fortified Japanese positions on Tarawa Atoll in the Gilberts, resulting in some of the bloodiest fighting of the Pacific campaign. The battle was a turning point in the Central Pacific.
Britain began expanding self-government in the islands during the 1960s. In 1975 the Ellice Islands separated from the colony and in 1978 became the independent country of Tuvalu. The Gilberts obtained internal self-government in 1977, and formally became an independent nation on July 12, 1979, under the name of Kiribati.
- The Settlement Of Polynesia
This is a two part essay on human migration in Polynesia. It includes The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 1 and The Settlement of Polynesia, Part 2. It was written by Dennis Kawaharada. Some of the islands of Oceania were among the last habitable land areas...
- History Of Palmyra Atoll
History of Palmyra Atoll. This is a history of the small American island group known as Palmyra Atoll. Wikipedia notes that, "Palmyra Atoll is an uninhabited, 12 km2 (4.6 mi2) atoll in the Northern Pacific Ocean at 5°52? N 162°6? W. Palmyra is one...
- History Of Solomon Islands
History of Solomon Islands. This is an overview to the history of the Pacific island nation of the Solomon Islands. From the site: Although little prehistory of the Solomon Islands is known, material excavated on Santa Ana, Guadalcanal, and Gawa indicates...
- History Of Palau
History of Palau. This is a very brief history of the Pacific Island nation of Palau. This nation is hosting the American television series Survivor in 2005. From the site: Palau was initially settled more than 4,000 years ago, probably by migrants...
- History Of Cayman Islands
History of Cayman Islands. This is a brief essay on the history of this beautiful Caribbean tax haven. From the site: The Cayman Islands remained largely uninhabited until the 17th century. A variety of people settled on the islands, including...