Micronesia: Difference between revisions
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==People== |
==People== |
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{{see also category|Indigenous peoples of Micronesia}} |
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The people today form many ethnicities, but are all descended from and belong to the Micronesian culture. The Micronesian culture was one of the last native cultures of the region to develop. It developed from a mixture of [[Melanesians]], [[Polynesians]], and [[Filipino people|Filipinos]]. |
The people today form many ethnicities, but are all descended from and belong to the Micronesian culture. The Micronesian culture was one of the last native cultures of the region to develop. It developed from a mixture of [[Melanesians]], [[Polynesians]], and [[Filipino people|Filipinos]]. |
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Because of this mixture of descent, many of the ethnicities of Micronesia feel closer to some groups in [[Melanesia]], [[Polynesia]] or the [[Philippines]]. A good example of this are the [[Yapese]] who are related to [[Austronesian]] tribes in the Northern [[Philippines]].<ref>[http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Micronesians.html Micronesians - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage, Relationships, Living conditions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
Because of this mixture of descent, many of the ethnicities of Micronesia feel closer to some groups in [[Melanesia]], [[Polynesia]] or the [[Philippines]]. A good example of this are the [[Yapese]] who are related to [[Austronesian]] tribes in the Northern [[Philippines]].<ref>[http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Mauritania-to-Nigeria/Micronesians.html Micronesians - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage, Relationships, Living conditions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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===Carolinian people=== |
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It is thought that ancestors of the [[Carolinian people]] may have originally immigrated from [[Asia]] and [[Indonesia]] to Micronesia around 2,000 years ago. Their primary language is [[Carolinian language|Carolinian]], called ''Refaluwasch'' by native speakers, which has a total of about 5,700 speakers. The Carolinians have a [[matriarchy|matriarchal]] society in which respect is a very important factor in their daily lives, especially toward the [[matriarch]]s. Most Carolinians are of the [[Roman Catholic]] faith. |
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The immigration of Carolinians to [[Saipan]] began in the early 19th century, after the [[Spain|Spanish]] reduced the local population of [[Chamorro people|Chamorro]] natives to just 3,700. They began to [[immigrate]] mostly sailing from small [[canoes]] from other islands, which a [[typhoon]] previously devastated. The Carolinians have a much darker complexion than the native [[Chamorro people|Chamorros]]. |
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===Chamorro people=== |
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The [[Chamorro people]]] are the [[indigenous peoples]] of the [[Mariana Islands]], which are politically divided between the [[Territories of the United States|United States territory]] of [[Guam]] and the [[United States]] [[Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands]] in [[Micronesia]]. The Chamorro are commonly believed to have come from [[Southeast Asia]] at around 2000 [[Common Era|BC]]. They are most closely related to other [[Austronesian]] natives to the west in the [[Philippines]] and [[Taiwanese aborigines|Taiwan]], as well as the [[Caroline Islands|Carolines]] to the south. |
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The [[Chamorro language]] is included in the [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian subgroup]] of the [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] family. Because Guam was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, many words derive from the [[Spanish language]]. The traditional Chamorro number system was replaced by Spanish numbers.<ref>Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga. ''Del español al chamorro: Lenguas en contacto en el Pacífico''. Madrid, 2009, Ediciones Gondo, www.edicionesgondo.com</ref> |
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===Chuukese people=== |
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The [[Chuukese people]] are an [[ethnic group]] in [[Oceania]]. They constitute 48% of the population of the [[Federated States of Micronesia]]. Their language is [[Chuukese language|Chuukese]]. |
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===Nauruan people=== |
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The [[Nauruan people]] are an [[ethnicity]], which inhabit the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] [[island]] of [[Nauru]]. They are most likely a blend of [[Indigenous peoples of Oceania|other Pacific peoples]].<ref>{{cite book|title=FutureFish 2001: FutureFish in Century 21: The North Pacific Fisheries Tackle Asian Markets, the Can-Am Salmon Treaty, and Micronesian Seas|author=C.D. Bay-Hansen|origyear=2006|url=http://www.amazon.com/dp/1553692934|publisher=[[Trafford Publishing]]|isbn=1-55369-293-4|page=277}}</ref> |
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The origin of the Nauruan people has not yet been finally determined. It can possibly be explained by the last Malayo-Pacific [[human migration]] (c. 1200). It was probably seafaring or shipwrecked [[Polynesians]] or [[Melanesian]]s, which established themselves there because there was not already an [[indigenous people]] present, whereas the [[Micronesians]] were already crossed with the Melanesians in this area. |
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==Languages== |
==Languages== |
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Micronesia (from Template:Lang-gr, mikrós, "small" + Template:Lang-gr, nēsos, "island") is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and northeast of Indonesia.
The term Micronesia was first proposed in 1831 by Jules Dumont d'Urville to denote an ethnic and geographical grouping of islands distinct from Polynesia to the south and Melanesia to the east.
Geography
The following are the islands and island groups, either nations or overseas territories, that are considered part of Micronesia:
- Caroline Islands, politically divided between Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia
- Gilbert Islands, the main part of Kiribati
- Mariana Islands, politically divided between the United States territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands
- Marshall Islands
- Nauru
- Wake Island, a United States Minor Outlying Island
The total land area of Micronesia is 1,229.95 square miles (3,185.6 km2).
History
The only empire known to have originated in Micronesia was based in Yap.[citation needed]
In the early 17th century Spain colonized Guam, the Northern Marianas, and the Caroline Islands (what would later become the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau), creating the Spanish East Indies, which was governed from the Spanish Philippines.
Spanish–German Treaty of 1899
After the USS Maine, which was sent by the United States to protect American commercial interests in Cuba, exploded in Havana Harbor, triggering the Spanish–American War, Spain lost many of its remaining colonies. Cuba became independent while the United States took possession of Puerto Rico and Spain's Pacific colonies of the Philippines and Guam. This left Spain with the remainder of the Spanish East Indies in the Pacific, about 6000 islands that were tiny, sparsely populated, not very productive, and that were both ungovernable after the loss of the administrative center of Manila, and undefendable after the loss of two Spanish fleets in the war. The Spanish government therefore decided to sell the remaining island to a new colonial power: the German Empire.
The treaty was signed on February 12, 1899 by Spanish Prime Minister Francisco Silvela and transferred the Caroline Islands, the Mariana Islands, Palau and other possessions to Germany. The islands were then placed under control of German New Guinea.
Recent history
Full European colonization did not come until the early 20th century, when the area would be divided between:
- the United States, which took control of Guam following the Spanish-American War of 1898, and colonized Wake Island;
- Germany, which took Nauru and bought the Marshall, Caroline, and Northern Mariana Islands from Spain; and
- the British Empire, which took the Gilbert Islands (Kiribati).
During World War I, Germany's Pacific island territories were seized and became League of Nations mandates in 1923. Nauru became an Australian mandate, while Germany's other territories in Micronesia were given as a mandate to Japan and were named the South Pacific Mandate. Following Japan's defeat in World War II, its mandate became a United Nations Trusteeship, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, ruled by the United States.
Today, most of Micronesia are independent states, except for Guam and Wake Island, which are U.S. territories, and for the Northern Mariana Islands, which are a U.S. commonwealth.
People
The people today form many ethnicities, but are all descended from and belong to the Micronesian culture. The Micronesian culture was one of the last native cultures of the region to develop. It developed from a mixture of Melanesians, Polynesians, and Filipinos. Because of this mixture of descent, many of the ethnicities of Micronesia feel closer to some groups in Melanesia, Polynesia or the Philippines. A good example of this are the Yapese who are related to Austronesian tribes in the Northern Philippines.[1]
Carolinian people
It is thought that ancestors of the Carolinian people may have originally immigrated from Asia and Indonesia to Micronesia around 2,000 years ago. Their primary language is Carolinian, called Refaluwasch by native speakers, which has a total of about 5,700 speakers. The Carolinians have a matriarchal society in which respect is a very important factor in their daily lives, especially toward the matriarchs. Most Carolinians are of the Roman Catholic faith.
The immigration of Carolinians to Saipan began in the early 19th century, after the Spanish reduced the local population of Chamorro natives to just 3,700. They began to immigrate mostly sailing from small canoes from other islands, which a typhoon previously devastated. The Carolinians have a much darker complexion than the native Chamorros.
Chamorro people
The Chamorro people] are the indigenous peoples of the Mariana Islands, which are politically divided between the United States territory of Guam and the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Micronesia. The Chamorro are commonly believed to have come from Southeast Asia at around 2000 BC. They are most closely related to other Austronesian natives to the west in the Philippines and Taiwan, as well as the Carolines to the south.
The Chamorro language is included in the Malayo-Polynesian subgroup of the Austronesian family. Because Guam was colonized by Spain for over 300 years, many words derive from the Spanish language. The traditional Chamorro number system was replaced by Spanish numbers.[2]
Chuukese people
The Chuukese people are an ethnic group in Oceania. They constitute 48% of the population of the Federated States of Micronesia. Their language is Chuukese.
Nauruan people
The Nauruan people are an ethnicity, which inhabit the Pacific island of Nauru. They are most likely a blend of other Pacific peoples.[3]
The origin of the Nauruan people has not yet been finally determined. It can possibly be explained by the last Malayo-Pacific human migration (c. 1200). It was probably seafaring or shipwrecked Polynesians or Melanesians, which established themselves there because there was not already an indigenous people present, whereas the Micronesians were already crossed with the Melanesians in this area.
Languages
The native languages of the various Micronesian indigenous peoples are classified under the Austronesian language family. Almost all of these languages belong to the Oceanic branch of this family, and mostly to the Micronesian languages division within that branch; however, two exceptions are noted in western Micronesia, which are Western Malayo-Polynesian languages:
- Chamorro in the Mariana Islands
- Palauan in Palau.
These are apparently no more closely related to Micronesian languages than they are to languages of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Kirch, 2000: pp. 166–167).
On the eastern edge of the Federated States of Micronesia, the languages Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi represent an extreme westward extension of Polynesian.
Culture
Music
Micronesian music is influential to those living in the Micronesian islands. The music is based around mythology and ancient Micronesian rituals. It covers a range of styles from traditional songs, handed down through generations, to contemporary music.
Regional organizations
The region is home to the Micronesian Games, a quadrennial international multi-sport event involving all Micronesia's countries and territories except Wake Island.
In September 2007, journalists in the region founded the Micronesian Media Association.[4]
See also
References
- ^ Micronesians - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage, Relationships, Living conditions
- ^ Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga. Del español al chamorro: Lenguas en contacto en el Pacífico. Madrid, 2009, Ediciones Gondo, www.edicionesgondo.com
- ^ C.D. Bay-Hansen. FutureFish 2001: FutureFish in Century 21: The North Pacific Fisheries Tackle Asian Markets, the Can-Am Salmon Treaty, and Micronesian Seas. Trafford Publishing. p. 277. ISBN 1-55369-293-4.
- ^ Regional journalists form Micronesian media group, Saipan Tribune, 26 September 2007
Further reading
- Kirch, Patrick Vinton (2000). On the Road of the Winds. An Archaeological History of the Pacific Islands before European Contact. University of California Press. pp. 166–167. ISBN 0-520-22347-0.
- Goetzfridt, Nicholas J. and Karen M. Peacock (2002). Micronesian Histories: An Analytical Bibliography and Guide to Interpretations. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
External links
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