Micronesia

Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It has a shared cultural history with two other island regions, Polynesia to the east and Melanesia to the south.

Geography

Micronesia is divided into four main archipelagos, along with numerous outlying islands. The Caroline Islands (which include Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia), the Gilbert Islands (which are part of Kiribati), the Mariana Islands (which include Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), and the Marshall Islands.

History

The earliest known contact with Europeans occurred in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan reached the Mariana Islands. Most of Micronesia became part of the Spanish East Indies in the 17th century. In 1898, the islands were sold to Germany and incorporated into German New Guinea.

Culture

The Micronesian culture was one of the last native cultures of the region to develop. It developed from a mixture of Melanesians, Polynesians, and Filipinos. Because of this mixture of descent, many of the ethnic groups of Micronesia feel closer to some groups in Melanesia, Polynesia or the Philippines.

Economy

The economy of Micronesia can be described as that of a developing nation with few natural resources, a small population and little industry. The economy is dominated by the service sector, which includes the public sector, trade, and services.

See also

• List of Micronesian islands
• Music of Micronesia
• Micronesian mythology

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