We read the histories of the 18th century explorers coming on these South Sea Islanders all innocent and ignorant of everything except their island groups. But they did have these huge canoes that could also host sails, and, after all, they had got there from outside in the first place. So it's possible their knowledge was far more extensive - maybe they knew a good deal of the neighbouring island groups and had a vaguer knowledge of a much larger area. Does anyone know?
2006-10-29 01:42:15 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
from Taiwan in the north to new zeal and to Easter island and up to Tahiti out to Hawaii, so more than the average Roman or Chinese. there was huge trade between the islands and they knew the limits of their huge area
2006-10-29 01:45:12 · answer #1 · answered by Bryn L 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it was possible for the Vikings to know about America, (they colonised parts of North America before being driven out by the local population and disease), it could also be possible for the Polynesians to have at least known about the people of the Northern Hemisphere.
Early industrialised Europe tried to set up trade with the Chinese, but the Chinese were unimpressed with what the Europeans had to trade and sent them on their merry way.
2006-10-29 01:25:50 · answer #2 · answered by Hendo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋