Difference between revisions of "Melanesia" - New World Encyclopedia

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Melanesia (from Greek meaning "black islands") is a region extending from the western side of the East Pacific to the Arafura Sea, north and north-east of Australia. The term was first used by Jules Dumont d'Urville in 1832 to denote an ethnic and geographical grouping of islands distinct from Polynesia and Micronesia. Today d'Urville's racial classification is known to be inaccurate because it obscures Melanesia's cultural, linguistic, and genetic diversity. Most importantly, this term combines two quite distinct groups, the Austronesians and the Papuans (who themselves can be considered as comprising a number of distinct groups).

The People of Melanesia

Map showing Melanesia

The original inhabitants of Melanesia are likely to have been the ancestors of the present-day Papuan language-speaking people. These people are thought to have occupied New Guinea tens of millennia ago, and reached the islands of Melanesia at least 35,000 years ago (according to radiocarbon dating). They appear to have occupied Melanesia as far east as the main islands in the Solomon Islands (i.e., including San Cristobal) and perhaps even to the smaller islands further to the east.

It is in Melanesia (particularly along the north coast of New Guinea and in the islands north and east of New Guinea) that the Austronesian people came into contact with these pre-existing populations of Papuan-speaking peoples, probably around four thousand years ago. It seems there was a long period of interaction which resulted in many complex changes in genetics, languages and culture. It is likely that it is from this area that a very small group of people departed to the east to become the founders of the Polynesian people.

The nations of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia (under French sovereignty) use this term to describe themselves because it reflects their shared colonial history and common regional situation. These areas form the core of the modern Melanesian region. However, adjacent islands in other countries are often seen as peripherally Melanesian (see below).

Location

The following islands and groups of islands are traditionally considered part of Melanesia:

Islands of mixed ancestry which do not necessarily self-identify as Melanesian:

Nauru
Timor
Tonga
Maluku Utara
Flores
Sumba

Some of the islands to the west of New Guinea such as Halmahera, Alor and Pantar can also be considered to be part of Melanesia, although people in this area do not make use of the term.

External links

Credits

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History of "Melanesia"

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 [[Category:Geography and demographics]]
-'''Melanesia''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]]: μ&#8051;λας ''black'', ν&#8134;σος ''island'') is a region extending from the western side of [[East Pacific]] to the [[Arafura Sea]], north and north-east of [[Australia]]. The term was first used by [[Jules Dumont d'Urville]] in 1832 to denote an ethnic and geographical grouping of islands distinct from [[Polynesia]] and [[Micronesia]]. Today d'Urville's [[race|racial]] classification is known to be inaccurate because it obscures Melanesia's cultural, linguistic, and genetic diversity. Most importantly, this term combines two quite distinct groups, the [[Austronesian]]s and the [[Papuans]] (who themselves can be considered as comprising a number of distinct groups).
+'''Melanesia''' (from Greek meaning "black islands") is a region extending from the western side of the East Pacific to the [[Arafura Sea]], north and north-east of [[Australia]]. The term was first used by [[Jules Dumont d'Urville]] in 1832 to denote an ethnic and geographical grouping of islands distinct from [[Polynesia]] and [[Micronesia]]. Today d'Urville's racial classification is known to be inaccurate because it obscures Melanesia's cultural, linguistic, and genetic diversity. Most importantly, this term combines two quite distinct groups, the [[Austronesian]]s and the [[Papuans]] (who themselves can be considered as comprising a number of distinct groups).
 == The People of Melanesia ==
+[[Image:Melanesiamap.png|right|Map showing Melanesia]]
+The original inhabitants of Melanesia are likely to have been the ancestors of the present-day Papuan language-speaking people. These people are thought to have occupied New Guinea tens of millennia ago, and reached the islands of Melanesia at least 35,000 years ago (according to radiocarbon dating). They appear to have occupied Melanesia as far east as the main islands in the Solomon Islands (i.e., including San Cristobal) and perhaps even to the smaller islands further to the east.
-The original inhabitants of Melanesia are likely to have been the ancestors of the present-day Papuan language speaking people. These people are thought to have occupied New Guinea tens of millennia ago, and reached island Melanesia at least 35,000 years ago (according to radiocarbon dating). They appear to have occupied Melanesia as far east as the main islands in the Solomon Islands (i.e. including San Cristobal) and perhaps even to the smaller islands further to the east.
+It is in Melanesia (particularly along the north coast of New Guinea and in the islands north and east of New Guinea) that the [[Austronesian]] people came into contact with these pre-existing populations of Papuan-speaking peoples, probably around four thousand years ago. It seems there was a long period of interaction which resulted in many complex changes in genetics, languages and culture. It is likely that it is from this area that a very small group of people departed to the east to become the founders of the Polynesian people.
-It is in Melanesia (particularly along the north coast of New Guinea and in the islands north and east of New Guinea) that the [[Austronesian]] people came into contact with these pre-existing populations of Papuan speaking peoples, probably around four thousand years ago. It seems there was a long period of interaction which resulted in many complex changes in genetics, languages and culture. It is likely that it is from this area that a very small group of people departed to the east to become the founders of the Polynesian people.
-The nations of [[Fiji]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[Vanuatu]], and [[New Caledonia]] (under [[France|French]] [[sovereignty]]) use this term to describe themselves because it reflects their shared colonial history and common regional situation. These areas form the core of the modern Melanesian [[subregion|region]]. However, adjacent islands in other countries are often seen as peripherally Melanesian (see below).
+The nations of [[Fiji]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Solomon Islands]], [[Vanuatu]], and [[New Caledonia]] (under French sovereignty) use this term to describe themselves because it reflects their shared colonial history and common regional situation. These areas form the core of the modern Melanesian region. However, adjacent islands in other countries are often seen as peripherally Melanesian (see below).
 ==Location==
-[[Image:Melanesiamap.png|right|Map showing Melanesia]]
 The following islands and groups of islands are traditionally considered part of Melanesia: