Easter Island After its Discovery by Europeans: Inner, Outer Turmoil Doomed Rapa Nui Civilization
The collapse of the ecosystem on Easter Island, followed by famine, inter-tribal war, and forced labor abroad hastened the decline of Rapa Nui culture.
The...
The Ancient Polynesian Voyages: The Last Great Migrations to Distant Lands
The islands of the Pacific Ocean were settled by people travelling great distances in flimsy craft, using only nature's signs for navigation.
One of the...
Two Victorian Pioneers – John Batman and Hugh Murray
The Australian colony of Port Phillip covered the area which now comprises the State of Victoria.Two of the early European pioneers of the Port...
Politics in Hawaii: A Brief History
Most visitors to Hawaii know little about its history. They may be aware that Hawai`i enjoys the distinction of having the only royal palace...
History of Bungee Jumping: The Modern Bungee Jump Started as the Pentecost Jump in...
The first bungee jumpers, Pentecost Land Divers, used vines tied to their ankles and dived off towers made of sticks wearing nothing but a...
The Moriori People of Rekohu: First Settlers of New Zealand’s Eastern Outpost
The Moriori were the indigenous people of the Chatham Islands, which they called Rekohu. The last full-blooded Moriori died in 1933.
Dating the earliest human...
The Discovery and First Settlement of Aotearoa New Zealand
The islands of New Zealand were the last lands colonised by humans. The Polynesian voyagers are now believed to have arrived barely seven centuries...
The Victorian Gold Rush: Melbourne Booms when Gold is Discovered in the Colony
When its rich goldfields were discovered, Victoria became a magnet to people from across the seas. The town of Melbourne quickly became Australia's largest...
Sydney Harbour Bridge – the Unofficial Opening
March19th,1932 was a beautiful day in Sydney. The sky was cloudless, the sea was still and a million people gathered on the city's streets....
The Rangitoto Eruption: Birth of an Iconic Island
Rangitoto Island dominates the skyline north and east of Auckland, New Zealand's largest city. A mere seven hundred years ago, Rangitoto did not exist.
Scientists...