Polynesia

Deprecated: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is deprecated, use preg_replace_callback instead in /www/htdocs/w006958f/polynesia/wp-includes/functions-formatting.php on line 76

On Polynesia’s very large area with all it’s islands there arose several native cultures. Roughly speaking Polynesian native cultures are split in two parts, East Polynesia and West Polynesia.

West Polynesia

West Polynesians have a fine tradition regarding marriage, judiciary, finance and trading. West Polynesia consists mainly of Tonga, Niue, Samoa and the Polynesian outliers. Most of them are relatively high populated.

East Polynesia

East Polynesia consists mainly of smaller islands and atolls. Therefore skills like canoe construcion and navigation were essential for Eastern Polynesians. It’s main parts are New Zealand, Hawaii, the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, Tahiti, the Cook Islands and Easter Island.

Polynesian settlements

There are two types of historic settlements: hamlets and villages. A hamlet is a settlement of four or five houses. It was usually built on the larger islands which could be easily divided in many zones. Villages were settlements of more than thirty houses made of stone and wood. They were built on the coasts of small islands.

By the way, New Zealand is an exception from this rule. It’s large islands were settled with fortified villages.