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The Polynesians, known for their extraordinary maritime skills, began their epic journeys around 3000 BCE, moving through Southeast Asia and Indonesia before settling mid-Pacific islands. They mastered navigation using stars, sun positions, and environmental cues. By 900-800 BCE, they established settlements in Polynesia, including Tonga and Samoa. Over time, challenges like overpopulation and resource depletion led to political tensions. Despite these obstacles, their innovative dual-hulled ships enabled voyages from New Zealand to Hawaii and Easter Island, showcasing their remarkable seafaring legacy.
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Polynesians • 3000 BCE • Moved around Southeast Asia and Indonesia • Began to settle mid-Pacific islands • Developed charting & navigation methods • Used stars and rising & setting sun for direction
Polynesians • Central and eastern Pacific Ocean • 30,000 years ago – New Guinea populated • 20,000 years ago – Philippines occupied • 900-800 BCE – Polynesia settled • Tonga, Samoa, the Marquesas, Society Islands
Polynesians • Spread from island to island • Overpopulation and resource depletion became a problem • Politics, intertribal tension overpopulation problematic • 300-600 AD – Polynesians settled area from New Zealand, to Hawai’i to Easter Island
Polynesians • Why travel? • Religious warfare – losers banished or put to death • New technology – • Dual-hulled ships capable of carrying 100 • New navigation – position of stars • New ways of storing food
Polynesians • Navigation • Change in rhythm of wave sets could indicate an island • Flight paths of birds could indicate land • Stars told direction • Clouds over unseen islands • Smell, temperature, salinity, color of water, wind direction, type of marine life, sunrise/sunset colors all gave information