How did Polynesian wayfinders navigate the Pacific Ocean?
The early Polynesian voyagers were some of the best wayfinders in history (Fig. 8.3). They were able to find their way across vast reaches of the Pacific ocean basin navigating by the sun, stars, and other natural cues.
What did the early Polynesian Travellers use to navigate across the sea?
Traditional Polynesian navigators position themselves mainly by the stars, using what’s called a star compass. The ability to read the night sky is a great skill. A star compass is used to help memorise the rising and setting points of the brightest and most distinctive stars and planets to set direction.
What kind of boats did the Polynesians use to explore the Pacific Ocean?
Voyaging Canoes & Sails Polynesians mariners developed the double-hulled canoe (also called a catamaran). Some of their voyaging canoes were longer than Cook’s Endeavour, which was approximately 30 metres (98 feet), although the average length for the canoes was 15.2-22.8 metres (50-75 feet).
When did Polynesians sail the ocean?
around 3000 years ago
It was only around 3000 years ago that people began heading eastwards from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands further into the Pacific. Great skill and courage was needed to sail across vast stretches of open sea. Between 1100 and 800 BCE these voyagers spread to Fiji and West Polynesia, including Tonga and Samoa.
What did the Polynesians make their sails from?
The sails were made of mats woven from pandanus leaves. These vessels were seaworthy enough to make voyages of over 2,000 miles along the longest sea roads of Polynesia, like the one between Hawai’i and Tahiti.
How did Polynesians make boats?
Samoa and Tonga is where the distinctive Polynesian culture developed. Polynesians traveled on double-hull canoes connected by two crossbeams with a central platform that laid over them. The triangular sails were made out of specialized woven mats (see this blog for more information: Ancient Art of Tonga).
What did Polynesians make sails from?
How did Polynesians sail?
Polynesians traveled on double-hull canoes connected by two crossbeams with a central platform that laid over them. The triangular sails were made out of specialized woven mats (see this blog for more information: Ancient Art of Tonga).
What two islands did the Lapita travel to before settling down?
9 Cards in this Set
| The Ring of Fire is located in the _____. | Pacific ocean |
|---|---|
| What two islands did the Lapita travel to before settling down? | Bismarck Islands Papua New Guinea |
| The 1840 Treaty of Waitangi was between the _____. | Maori and English |
| The discovery of ____in 1851 brought many new immigrants to Australia. | Gold |