Description

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This wide-ranging study of the Pacific Islands provides a dynamic and provocative account of the peopling of the Pacific, and its broad impact on world history. Spanning over 50,000 years of human presence in an area which comprises one-third of our planet - Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia - the narrative follows the development of the region, from New Guinea's earliest settlement to the creation of the modern Pacific states.

Thoroughly revised and updated in light of the most recent scholarship, the second edition includes:
- an overview of the events and developments in the Pacific Islands over the last decade
- coverage of the latest archaeological discoveries
- several new maps
- an updated and expanded bibliography

Steven Roger Fischer's unique text provides a highly accessible and invaluable introduction to the history of an area which is currently emerging as pivotal in international affairs.
A History of the Pacific Islands traces the human history of nearly one-third of the globe over a fifty-thousand year span. This is history on a grand scale, taking the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia from prehistoric culture to the present day through a skilful interpretation of scholarship in the field. Fischer's familiarity with work in archaeology and anthropology as well as in history enriches the text, making this a book with wide appeal for students and general readers.

About the Author

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STEVEN ROGER FISCHER is Director of the Institute of Polynesian Languages and Literatures, Auckland, New Zealand, and has authored and edited more than 150 books and articles. For his celebrated decipherments of ancient scripts he was elected in 2010 a Fellow of the Royal Society (New Zealand).STEVEN ROGER FISCHER is Director of the Institute of Polynesian Languages and Literatures, Auckland, New Zealand, and has authored and edited more than 150 books and articles. For his celebrated decipherments of ancient scripts he was elected in 2010 a Fellow of the Royal Society (New Zealand).

Praise For…

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'A magnificent achievement - richly informative and engagingly written.' - Harvey Whitehouse, Queen's University of Belfast

'In substance and in style it has a discernably individual style that I find
appealing and which will make it very useful in a range of undergraduate
courses.' - Hugh Laracy, University of Auckland
'Steven Roger Fischer's History of the Pacific Islands is an excellent book that provides encyclopedic coverage of the field. It offers fascinating information not only to interested laymen, but also to students and experts working in the field and doing research in the area.' - Professor Dr Gunter Senft, Max-Planck-Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

'An excellent, comprehensive and up-to-date survey of the Pacific Islands, from prehistoric movements to modern political and economic realities. Recommended for all students of the Pacific.' - Professor Donald Tuzin, University of California, USA

'This is, in my view, the best recent introduction to Pacific history, one ideally suited for undergraduate study and for general readers.' - H. G. A. Hughes, Corwen, Wales, Reference Reviews