Polynesian
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians, sharing many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs.
History[edit | edit source]
Polynesia was first settled by Austronesian people who are believed to have arrived in the islands from Southeast Asia around 2000 BC. The Polynesian people are known for their seafaring skills, navigating the vast Pacific Ocean using the stars, winds, and ocean currents.
Geography[edit | edit source]
Polynesia is characterized by a small amount of land spread over a very large portion of the mid and southern Pacific Ocean. It includes three main sub-divisions: Tonga, Samoa, and French Polynesia. The largest country in Polynesia by land area is New Zealand.
Culture[edit | edit source]
Polynesian culture is rich and varied, with a strong emphasis on family, respect, and community. The arts, particularly dance and music, play a central role in Polynesian culture. Traditional Polynesian navigation methods, such as star navigation, are still taught in some areas.
Languages[edit | edit source]
The Polynesian languages are part of the larger Austronesian language family. These languages show a considerable degree of similarity. The most widely spoken Polynesian language is Maori, which is spoken in New Zealand.
Religion[edit | edit source]
Traditional Polynesian religion was animistic, with a belief in many deities, spirits and a strong connection to the environment and nature. With the arrival of Western missionaries, many Polynesians converted to Christianity, which is now the predominant religion in the region.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Sovereign states |
|  | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dependencies and other territories |
| ||||||||||
 | This Oceania-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
