SOURCE2 The distinctive decoration on pottery left behind by the Lapita people, ancestors of the Polynesians, helps archaeologists and historians trace migration paths across the Pacific.
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Work with a partner and decide what the distinctive decoration on Lapita pottery tells us about the migration patterns of the Polynesian ancestors? 2. How can the study of pottery help historians understand the expansion of the Polynesian people across the Pacific? 3. Why is it important for archaeologists to use physical evidence, like pottery, to develop theories about early Polynesian history?
Did you know? Many of the Polynesian words used in this chapter are translated into English and we’ve tried to use our alphabet, which sometimes doesn’t work! When you come across a new word, do some research to find out how it’s traditionally pronounced. For instance, many M̄aori words with wh in them use an f sound. Colonial invaders Written records, which appeared only in recent centuries, give historians a different view of Polynesian history. There are many records, but most were created by European colonisers, giving a biased perspective. Professor John Waiko from Papua New Guinea explains this in SOURCE3 . Historians must be careful with this type of evidence, as it can lead to a misunderstanding of the past. 11.2.2 SOURCE3 Professor John Waiko’s quote from his book A history of Papua New Guinea and its neighbours illustrates the problem of seeing history from a single perspective. They [the Europeans] have emphasised the activities of the foreigners. During the colonial encounter the emphasis was on the colonisers rather than the colonised. Their documents portray the roles of the colonisers rather than the roles of the indigenous people. Changing history In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on Polynesian history from the perspective of Polynesian people. This work is done by the descendants of the first settlers. Oral histories are important, but they need to be recorded quickly before they are lost. Oral history can sometimes show what the teller wants to remember, rather than what really happened. Historians need to balance these stories with written records to get a fuller picture of the past. In this topic, both traditional and modern names of places will be used. Knowing how European influence has shaped our views helps us remove bias. When talking about modern times, we’ll use modern names.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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