A Brief History of Tahiti Essay -- World History Essays

Like much of the colonial world, Tahiti and its surrounding islands were subject to the intense brutality and domination of European imperialism. The native people were manipulated, their culture was eradicated, and their freedom was greatly limited as both the French and the British struggled for control over the Polynesian’s 65 inhabitable islands. What makes Tahiti distinctive from the colonial world, though, is the lack of violence commonly associated with independence movements. Instead, Tahiti’s progression from a colony to a territory of limited independence has been, for the most part, rather peaceful due to the area’s unique history and geography. The area known as French Polynesia is spread out across 2,000,000 miles of the South Pacific Ocean. Though, this number in many cases is deceiving due to the fact that only about 6,500 of those miles are land. Tahiti is the largest of the Polynesian’s 118 islands, containing a land mass greater than 1,667 square miles. It is also the area’s most populous region, consisting of nearly 150,000 citizens. The first Europeans arrived in Tahiti in 1767. A year later, the island was claimed for France by explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville. The French, though, were slow to exert their control over the region and, in their absence, other colonial powers, most notably the British, were able to establish dominance. In 1797, the members of the London Missionary Society arrived on the island. Over the next twenty years, these missionaries developed close ties with the Pomares, Tahiti’s most powerful ruling family. Through domination and manipulation, the British missionaries used the Pomares’ influence to eradicate many of the native traditions,... .../historydates.asp> Tahiti. 1995-2002. 12 Nov. 2002. â€Å"Tahiti and French Polynesia: A look at the history and culture of French Polynesia† Tahiti Explorer. 1994-2002. 12 Nov. 2002. â€Å"Tahiti and Its Islands: The History† Tahiti Explorer. 1994-2002. 12 Nov. 2002. Links This link brings its reader to a timeline of dates regarding the history of Tahiti and Polynesia. This link brings its reader to a website designed for tourists. It contains various information about Tahiti. This link brings its reader to a basic website containing historical facts and tourism information regarding Tahiti.