Sea People

ISBN: 9780008339050

Format: Paperback / softback

Author: gid://shopify/Metaobject/87494197484

Sea People by Christina Thompson is a riveting historical exploration that delves into the mysterious origins and epic journeys of the Polynesians-one of the world's most enigmatic and adventurous seafaring peoples. The narrative unfolds over a thousand years ago, focussing on how these master navigators discovered and colonised the far-flung islands within a vast triangle from Hawaii to New Zealand to Easter Island, long before European explorers set foot in the Pacific Ocean.

The Polynesians were unique in their time, being both the most widely dispersed yet closely related people on the planet. Their incredible voyages represent one of the greatest adventures in humanity's history, as these ancient mariners traversed the largest ocean in the world without the aid of writing, metal tools, or modern navigation techniques.

Christina Thompson's journey into this enthralling subject is both academic and personal. Her connection to this history runs deep, as she is married to a Maori man, with whom she shares sons who are direct descendants of these ancient voyagers. Through their family ties, Thompson brings an intimate and engaging perspective that enriches the narrative, blending her own modern-day experiences with historical inquiry.

In Sea People, Thompson meticulously examines how the Polynesians' remarkable feats of exploration raised what came to be known in the eighteenth century as the Problem of Polynesian Origins-one of the great geographical mysteries. She investigates how these navigators managed to find and settle islands scattered across thousands of kilometres, a puzzle that has intrigued and baffled sailors, linguists, archaeologists, folklorists, biologists, and geographers for over three centuries.

This masterful work intertwines elements of history, geography, anthropology, and the science of navigation, offering a comprehensive and engrossi...