Polynesians

As a group of Polynesian peoples is called, saith the Polynesian languages ​​and to include the Māori in New Zealand, but also the people of Hawaii, Tahiti and Fiji.

For about 6000 years the Polynesians settled the islands of the Pacific. Well due to the long isolation of the Polynesians is their original home very controversial. Genome and linguistic research on the Austronesian languages ​​suggest an origin from Taiwan. It is also New Guinea in the debate.

The Polynesians were among the most skilled navigators in history. They settled many of the approximately 10,000 islands of the South Pacific, including Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaii and Easter Island.

Between 200 BC and 400 AD Polynesians sailed to the north, in western Melanesia and Micronesia bow after. Other east against current and wind to the Cook Islands. From there, sometime between the years 0 and 600 AD, they discovered Tahiti, the Tuamotus, the Marquesas, Mangareva and Pitcairn Islands. They drove out to find new islands and places for their people.

On the basis of certain cloud formations, for waves and stars could be the "Water eaters" based on the sea. So-called stick charts that were used in the training, the direction of the waves indicated. The type of ship, which was used by Polynesians called outrigger canoe and consisted of two hulls.

For flora and fauna of the islands concerned the settlement led by the Polynesians to a first extinctions. Thus, the Moa and many other New Zealand species were extinct before the arrival of European explorers and are known to us only by bone finds. The same happened to the Moa - Nalos in Hawaii. Then a second of extinctions was caused by the European settlers.

As recent research indicates that the Polynesians introduced the domestic chicken in South America, it must be assumed that they engaged in trade with the Europeans on this continent before the so-called " discovery of America ".

In addition to domestic fowl kept the Polynesian dogs and pigs as pets.

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