History of Tuvalu Under Australia/Oceania Continents – The history of Tuvalu under Australia/Oceania is a long and complicated one. This article will attempt to give a brief overview of the most important events and developments in this period.
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Pre-History of Tuvalu
Pre-history of Tuvalu refers to the period before the written history of Tuvalu. The oral history of Tuvalu begins with the arrival of two women from Samoa in a canoe. They landed on one of the nine islands which make up Tuvalu and began to settle there.
The first European contact with Tuvalu was in 1568 when Spanish explorer, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, sighted Nui Island. In 1774, English explorer Captain James Cook sighted Niutao Island. The next recorded European contact was in 1824 when Louis Isidore Duperrey, captain of La Coquille, sighted Nukufetau Island.
Tuvalu was previously known as the Ellice Islands. The name Tuvalu means “eight standing together” in reference to the eight main islands that make up the country.
The history of Tuvalu can be divided into three distinct periods: pre-European contact, European contact, and post-independence.
Pre-European contact:
The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people. It is not clear when they arrived on the islands, but it is believed that they arrived either from Samoa or Tonga. The oral history of Tuvalu suggests that the first settlers arrived in a canoe which was blown off course from Samoa.
The first European contact with Tuvalu was in 1568 when Spanish explorer, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, sighted Nui Island. In 1774, English explorer Captain James Cook sighted Niutao Island. The next recorded European contact was in 1824 when Louis Isidore Duperrey, captain of La Coquille, sighted Nukufetau Island.
European contact:
In 1892, the British established a protectorate over Tuvalu which included the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. The Protectorate was renamed the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in 1915.
In 1916, the British separated the Gilbert Islands from the Ellice Islands, and the two colonies become separate entities. The Gilbert Islands colony is renamed the Gilbert Islands Protectorate and the Ellice Islands colony is renamed the Ellice Islands Protectorate.
In 1974, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands gain self-rule and are separated into two countries: Kiribati and Tuvalu. Tuvalu becomes an independent country on 1 October 1978.
Post-independence:
Since independence, Tuvalu has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations. In 2000, Tuvalu became the 189th member of the United Nations.
Early History of Tuvalu
Few people know that the history of Tuvalu actually begins well before it was colonized by Europeans. In fact, the first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesian people who arrived on the island around 2,000 years ago. These early settlers were able to thrive on the island due to its ample resources and favorable climate. For centuries, the Tuvaluan people lived in relative peace and isolation from the rest of the world.
That all changed in the late 18th century when European explorers began to arrive in the Pacific region. The first known European to sightTuvalu was English Captain Samuel Wallis, who landed on the island of Funafuti in 1767. Other Europeans soon followed, including French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville and British Captain James Cook. While most of these early explorers simply visited Tuvalu for a short time and then moved on, some of them began to take an interest in colonizing the island.
In 1819, Britain formally annexedTuvalu, making it a colony of the British Empire. For the next 150 years, Tuvalu remained under British rule. During this time, Western culture and values slowly began to take root on the island. This process was hastened by the arrival of Christian missionaries in the mid-19th century.
By the early 20th century, Tuvalu had become firmly entrenched in Western culture. This was evident in the way that the Tuvaluan people began to dress and speak. It was also evident in the way that they began to practice Christianity. In fact, Christianity is now the predominant religion on the island.
In the years after World War II, Tuvalu underwent a period of rapid modernization. This was due in part to the influx of money and resources that came with being a part of the British Empire. In addition, Tuvaluan men began to leave the island to work in other parts of the world, such as Fiji and Australia. As a result of these factors, Tuvalu became increasingly westernized throughout the second half of the 20th century.
In 1978, Tuvalu gained independence from Britain. Since then, it has remained a sovereign nation. However, it should be noted that Tuvalu still has strong ties to both Britain and Australia. These countries provide Tuvalu with economic and military assistance.
Where Did The People of Tuvalu Come From?
The first inhabitants of Tuvalu were Polynesians, so the origins of the people of Tuvalu can be traced to the spread of humans out of Southeast Asia, from Taiwan, via Melanesia, and across the Pacific islands of Polynesia.
The Arrival of Europeans in Tuvalu
The arrival of Europeans in Tuvalu was a momentous event in the history of the islands. The first European to sight the islands was Alvaro de Mendaña, who sailed past them in 1568. However, it was not until 1767 that another European, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, rediscovered the islands.
Bougainville was on a mission to find the fabled Great Southern Continent, and he named the islands he saw “Les Nouvelles-Hebrides”. However, it was not until Captain James Cook arrived in 1774 that the islands were properly charted and named. Cook named them “Tuvalu”, meaning “eight standing together”, referring to the eight main islands in the archipelago.
The arrival of Europeans brought great changes to Tuvalu. The introduction of Western goods and technologies led to a decline in traditional crafts and lifestyles. Christian missionaries also began arriving, and they had a profound impact on Tuvaluan culture and society. Many Tuvaluans converted to Christianity, and today the majority of the population is Christian.
The arrival of Europeans also brought disease and violence to Tuvalu. Many Tuvaluans died from diseases such as measles and influenza, which were introduced by Europeans. There was also a lot of fighting between European settlers and Tuvaluans. In 1819, for example, there was a bloody battle on Nukulaelae between French and British settlers.
In the late 19th century, Tuvalu became a British colony. This meant that it was governed by Britain, and British laws and customs were introduced. However, Tuvaluans were still able to maintain their own language and culture.
In 1974, Tuvalu gained independence from Britain. This was a momentous event in the history of the country, and it marked the beginning of a new era.
The establishment of a British colony in Tuvalu
In 1877, the United Kingdom established a colony in Tuvalu, which was then known as the Ellice Islands. The colony was part of the British Western Pacific Territories, which also included the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (present-day Kiribati and Tuvalu), the Solomon Islands, Fiji, and New Guinea.
The British government administered the colony through a governor who resided on the island of Funafuti. A legislative council was also established, consisting of the governor and six appointed members. The colony was initially run as a copra plantation, with workers recruited from Samoa and other Pacific islands.
In 1916, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands were separated into two colonies, with Tuvalu becoming part of the Gilbert Islands colony. In 1974, the Gilbert Islands gain independence as Kiribati, and Tuvalu remains a separate colony.
In 1978, a constitutional conference is held in London to discuss Tuvalu’s future. It is decided that Tuvalu will become an independent state within the Commonwealth in 1979.
On October 1, 1979, Tuvalu officially gains its independence from the United Kingdom and becomes a sovereign state.
Tuvalu as part of the Australian/Oceania Region
The history of Tuvalu under Australia/Oceania is a long and complicated one. Tuvalu was first settled by the Polynesians who arrived in the 3rd century BC. The island was then annexed by the British in 1892 and became a protectorate in 1900. In 1916, Tuvalu was made a part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. After World War II, Tuvalu became a UN trust territory and gained independence in 1978. However, since then, the island has been heavily dependent on Australia and New Zealand for economic and military support.
Modern History of Tuvalu
The island nation of Tuvalu is located in the central Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia and southwest of Hawaii. The archipelago consists of four main islands (Funafuti, Nanumea, Nui, and Vaitupu) and six smaller ones.
In 1892, Tuvalu became a British protectorate and was subsequently annexed to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony in 1916. The Gilbert Islands gained independence from Britain in 1974 and Tuvalu became fully independent in 1978.
Since independence, Tuvalu has been largely peaceful and prosperous. In recent years, however, the country has been facing significant challenges due to climate change and rising sea levels.
Despite these challenges, the people of Tuvalu remain resilient and hopeful for the future of their beautiful country.
Conclusion
The island nation of Tuvalu has a long and varied history, marked by both its Polynesian roots and its time as a British colony. In recent years, Tuvalu has become an increasingly important player in the global arena, thanks in part to its strategic location in the Pacific Ocean. WhileTuvalu may be a small country, it is one with a rich history and a bright future.
