Chapter+24+Notes.docx

Chapter 24: The Pacific islands and Antarctica Section 1 Introduction Oceania Pathfinders When an island became overcrowded, a group would settle a different island Navigation skills were unmatched Settled into people groups with distinct languages and cultures Three main regions Melanesia-p...

Chapter 24: The Pacific islands and Antarctica Section 1 Introduction Oceania Pathfinders When an island became overcrowded, a group would settle a different island Navigation skills were unmatched Settled into people groups with distinct languages and cultures Three main regions Melanesia-people migrated from south east Asia Micronesia-people migrated from Taiwan Polynesia-people migrated from Taiwan Physical geography-What is the physical geography of the Pacific Islands and Antarctica like? Regions of Oceania Micronesia: Countries and Territories Caroline Islands (Federated States of Micronesia and Palau) Mariana Islands (Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas) Marshall Islands and Gilbert Islands Melanesia: Countries and Territories New Guinea, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji Polynesia: Countries and Territories New Zealand and Hawaii Phoenix Islands, Line Islands, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Easter Island French Polynesia (the Society, Gambier, Tubaui, Tuamotu, Marquesas, and Austral Islands) Regions of Antarctica West Antarctica Ross and Weddell Seas, Ellsworth Mountains, Antarctic Peninsula East Antarctica Transantarctic Mountain Range Physical Landforms Two types of islands: High islands-Larger islands rising above sea level with volcanic mountains and hills Low islands-Also called atolls; rings of coral left around a submerged volcano cone Bodies of Water: The Pacific Islands The Pacific Ocean covers one-third of the earth’s surface. Abyssal plains are the flattest areas on earth. Abyssal plains-A broad, level area on the ocean floor The deep refers to a place in a trench that exceeds the depth of eighteen thousand feet. Deep-A place in a trench that exceeds the depth of eighteen thousand feet Isolated underwater volcanoes, called seamounts, dot the basins. Seamounts-Isolated underwater volcanoes that dot the ocean basins The Pacific Island region includes thousands of lagoons, which are areas of the ocean surrounded by coral. Lagoons-Area of the ocean surrounded by coral Papua New Guinea is the only island with significant rivers: the Sepik and the Fly. Bodies of Water: Antarctica A band of polar water circles the continent. Pieces of the ice pack that break off are called ice floes. Ice floes-A large, flat sheet of floating ice that has formed from seawater The open water between floes is called a lead. Lead-The open water between floes Climates of the Pacific Islands and Antarctica All the Pacific Islands have a rainy season and a dry season caused by the trade winds. The Antarctic Plateau is famous for its cold cyclonic storms that whirl almost endlessly from east to west. The extreme cold of Antarctica’s interior prohibits life. Resources of the Pacific Islands and Antarctica The islands lack significant amounts of arable land. All the islands have two products for export: coconuts and marine products. sweet potatoes, Coconuts, taro Fish, seashells, seaweed, pearls, shrimp New Caledonia is a world-leading supplier of nickel and cobalt. Extensive coal fields and mineral resources may lie under the ice of Antarctica. Section Review What two nations are the Caroline Islands divided into? Federated States of Micronesia and Palau What is another name for a low island? Why is soil so poor on such islands? atoll; because coral soil lacks organic material What is a deep? a place in a trench that exceeds the depth of eighteen thousand feet What are the positive and negative aspects of the tropical island weather? One positive aspect is the consistent pleasant and warm weather. One negative aspect is the chance for a devastating typhoon. What mineral compound made Nauru rich? How did it get there? phosphate; migrating birds Section 2 Human geography-How do the people of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia live? History of the Pacific Islands Indigenous and ancient peoples lived, moved, and thrived across the Pacific Islands as early as 1500 BC Ancient periods are not known about for sure, but historians can trace movement and chart history through the following methods. Archeology (Ex: Lapita pottery) Oral history that was later written down by Europeans (Ex: Spanish version of Putan Dos Amantes Unusual features (Ex: Moai on Rapa Nui or Nan Madol on Pohnpei) DNA or language studies (Ex: Australoid and Austronesian) Animal studies (Ex: Micronesian rat) Food patterns (Ex: Sweet Potato) Nan Madol and Rapa Nui Stone Heads European Contact Ferdinand Magellan was the first European to chart the Pacific during his voyage around the world in 1519–21. Captain James Cook charted the east coast of Australia and discovered New Caledonia and the Hawaiian Islands, which he named the Sandwich Islands. European traders and whalers came in search of coconut oil, sandalwood, pearls, tortoise shell, and provisions (general food for their sailors or specific food for trade. Ex: Shark fin and birds’ nests) Missionary Contact Congregational missionaries came to evangelize the islanders. Colonial Contact For over one hundred years, Hawaii tried to remain independent, but the islands were annexed by the United States in 1898. The British, Dutch, and Germans vied for control of the Melanesian islands. During the 1930s and 40s, Japan controlled most of Oceania’s islands. After World War II, the Allies governed the islands as trust territories to help the islands recover from their losses and develop stable governments. Trust territories-A territory under the trusteeship of the United Nations Antarctic History In 1895 a Norwegian businessman named Henryk Johan Bull became the first human to set foot on the continent. On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen planted the Norwegian flag at the South Pole. Foreign powers began establishing bases on Antarctica in the 1940s. The Antarctic Treaty promised: To ban military bases and weapons testing on the continent To freeze all land claims To exchange all information freely To open all camps for inspection at any time To ban mining for fifty years Governments Although most of these countries are independent, their governments are still related to the Allied nations. It is very difficult for small islands to survive as independent nations. Islands with British influence Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu are constitutional monarchies. Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, and Vanuatu are parliamentary republics. Kiribati is a presidential republic. The people of Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji suffer ethnic tension and struggle for unity within their countries. Islands with French influence New Caledonia and French Polynesia are French possessions. Both countries have voted to remain part of France. Islands with American influence Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands are self-governed in “free association” with the United States, and they are presidential republics. Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas (CNMI) are organized territories, while American Samoa is an unorganized territory. In some cases, Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa are like independent countries, but in others they are not. Economies Most products are expensive since goods must be imported from great distances and in small quantities. Tourism and remittances are a large part of the economies of Polynesia and Micronesia, while in Melanesia mining and logging are most important. The islands get income from selling fishing rights to their waters, and they depend heavily on foreign aid. Many islands have niche industries that provide a great deal of income. Demographics This region has broad ranging urbanization rates. More people live in PNG than in all the other Pacific islands combined. Most of the islands have a majority ethnicity related to the islands. Culture and Diversity Island life is known for having a slower and more relaxed pace than life on the continents. Families spend a lot of time at the beach and enjoy “talking story.” The Polynesians invented surfing. Palau’s reefs are one of the “seven underwater wonders of the world.” Coconuts, fish, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, and taro are the staples. Religion The islanders worshiped a host of gods and spirits. By 1840 Kamehameha III declared Hawaii a Christian kingdom. The missionary effort culminated in a push to reach the people of New Guinea. While secular influences have diluted the Christian witness, many islands seek to hold on to their Christian heritage. Section Review In what way is Antarctica the world’s most unusual territory? It has no permanent citizens, it does not have its own government, nor is it under the government of any country. What are ways Britain, France, and the United States still influence the islands? Even the independent islands still have official associations with these Western nations, and some of the islands are totally under their jurisdiction. hat are the commonalities of all the economies? They all depend on foreign aid and tourism, and each island has a niche industry. What could explain the existence of high birthrates yet minimal or decreasing population growth in Polynesia and Micronesia? the migration of citizens off the islands Why might life seem slower and more relaxed on the islands? because there are not as many activities and distractions as on the mainland Why were the Hawaiians more open to the gospel in 1820? because their belief system had just been abolished Section 3: INTERACTIONS OF PEOPLE AND PLACES-What are some of the challenges of living in the Pacific Islands? Environmental Issues of the Pacific Islands and Antarctica Pacific Islands Antarctica Water Land Old nuclear test sites-Marshall Islands/French Polynesia Loss of land from over-development Ozone “hole” Concerns over melting sea ice Lack of natural freshwater Polluted lagoons Contaminated groundwater Damaged reefs Rainforest loss from erosion Scarred land from mining Invasive species Reasons for Environmental Issues Most of the islands lack advanced sewer and waste-water treatment facilities. The rainforest loss is a result of a growing commercial demand for tropical timber. Mining projects in Melanesia also impact the forests and water. The growing trash problem is the result of a greater use of plastics worldwide, and the cost of shipping away trash is too great. Proposed Solutions Implementing desalinization-changing salt water to fresh Limiting or educating tourism (Ex: Palau Pledge https://vimeo.com/251574951) Fighting invasive species (Ex: Brown tree snake or rhino beetle) Promote study of science Creating new biodegradable plastics (Ex: Lucy Hughes-2019 invented plastic made out of fish waste https://youtu.be/YJ7esQeh-Cw Section Review Why might it be surprising that living on a tropical island is dangerous? because the waters are pristine, the weather is great most of the time, and the media builds up the positives of living on a tropical island Was the United States government right to detonate nuclear devices on some of the Marshall Islands? Why or why not? Yes; it was right because of the great need to develop nuclear technology during the Cold War while limiting the damage to a sparsely populated area. No; the government was wrong for not anticipating the extent of contamination and the amount of time it would take for this region to again become inhabitable or for possibly concealing this information. A Christian evaluation will consider the command to love others as oneself. What environmental problem is not a significant issue in the Pacific Islands and Antarctica? Why might that be? air pollution; because of the lack of major industries, large populations, and automobiles How might a relaxed culture affect environmental issues? They may not make serious efforts to solve issues and instead just go with the cheapest “fix.” How might you address the various environmental issues in the islands? Collect all the garbage and either recycle it or dispose of it more responsibly. Invent new products Learn about problems and look for solutions