Pitcairn, Henderson and Mangareva
Anjali Parmar
Thesis
The civilization of Henderson island collapsed due to deforestation, over-dependency on trade, and overpopulation. These were problems to be faced by European settlers, but the construction of the Panama Canal was not a cause for the collapse. However, the Islands of Mangareva and Pitcairn are still inhabited today.
Background
The Mangareva, Pitcairn and Henderson civilizations are an isolated group of three islands in the South Pacific Ocean located right in the middle of the Americas and Australia. Henderson island is located at the southernmost part of the group, and is considered as the type of island generally referred to as Makatea. This means that it is a former circular coral reef that has risen above sea levels after thousands of years. It’s covered in a layer of broken limestone, has beautiful beaches and shores, and is tiny, with an area only fourteen square miles. However, it is the largest of the three islands. Pitcairn, which is west of Henderson, is a mere two and a half square miles in area. It is home to rugged beaches, with not many places to dock boats, and an abundance of useable stone. Mangareva, which is about fifteen miles in diameter, is located three hundred miles southeast of Pitcairn. It houses a large lagoon filled with seafood, but has no useable stone. There was early Polynesian life on the islands from 800 A.D. to about 1450 A.D. Staying true to their Polynesian roots, the island civilizations always had a food surplus, which was a major reason why deforestation occurred.
Deforestation
Although these islands seem close together, they are actually days apart in reality. In order to get from island to island, canoes were made from hollowed out tree trunks. Because the agriculture industry in Mangareva had grown so much, more land needed to be cleared for the crops. More trees were cut down to expand the farmland, and they were used to also make more canoes to transport the growing number of exports. Unfortunately, because so many trees were being cut down at a rapid rate, the soil started to fall away from the roots of the plants, and soon enough, the island was plagued with a horrible case of soil erosion. This soil erosion meant that the islanders could no longer plant in that land for a good couple of hundred years. As a result, all trade to Pitcairn and Henderson islands gradually ceased and the agriculture industry in Mangareva collapsed.
Trade
Population
Panama Canal
Bibliography
Diamond, Jared M. "[#3 The Last People Alive: Pitcairn and Henderson Islands]." Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New York: Viking, 2005. Print.
Diamond, Jared. "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed Summary - ENotes.com." Enotes.com. Enotes.com, 1 Apr. 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://www.enotes.com/topics/collapse-how-societies-fail-succeed>.
Diamond, Jared. "Ecological Collapses of Pre-industrial Societies." Http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/anthro/bec/papers/Diamond_Ecological_Collapses.PDF. UCLA, 2000. Web. 1 Apr. 2014. <http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/anthro/bec/papers/Diamond_Ecological_Collapses.PDF>.
Diamond, Jared. "G&G | Will We Choose To Survive?" G&G | Will We Choose To Survive? New York TImes, 2005. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://www.garlicandgrass.org/issue9/Jared_Diamond.cfm>.
Null, Savannah. "Collapse: Chapter 3." Prezi.com. Savannah Null, 1 June 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://prezi.com/z-oorrpchq0l/collapse-chapter-3/>.
"Henderson Island- Prehistoric Economy of Feathers." BBC News. BBC, 29 Apr. 2004. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/dna/place-lancashire/plain/A2309195>. Published by BBC in 2004, this article is a reliable source for this research paper because it is published by a well known and well respected organization which is known for their research capabilities. The site includes links to different sources/articles that were used in writing the article. The article explains the downfall of the Islands, as well as the history before, and the aftermath of the fallen economy and completely destroyed environment. It also addresses the fact that the same events could possibly occur in this time and age, as we are so dependent on international trade. In addition to the straightforward language used, Prehistoric Economy of Feathers published by BBC is a great way to learn about the history and downfall of the Pitcairn Island group.
Pitcairn Islands Office. "Pitcairn Islands." Pitcairn Islands. Pitcairn Islands Government. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. <http://www.government.pn/Pitcairnshistory.php>. Published by the Pitcairn Island government, this article is definitely a reliable source to use for this research paper. It discusses the entire history of the Islands, and gives the reader a solid understanding of how the island was established and what lead to its downfall. From the writing of its first constitution to the economic and environmental downfall, this article covers every topic that a reader could want to know about the Islands. It is very easy to understand, and the colorful history of the islands makes the article interesting as well.