Australia and the Pacific Realm is a region unlike any other in the world. Made up of thousands of islands, from tiny atolls to the continent of Australia, this region is defined by the mighty ocean flowing between neighboring islands and countries. How did people come to inhabit the islands of this region? How do the islands differ from one another? Readers will have the full Oceania tour with this exciting book, which uses photographs, maps, and fact-filled text to paint an inspiring picture of Australia and the Pacific Realm.
Australia and the Pacific Realm is a region unlike any other in the world. Made up of thousands of islands, from tiny atolls to the continent of Australia, this region is defined by the mighty ocean flowing between neighboring islands and countries. How did people come to inhabit the islands of this region? How do the islands differ from one another? Readers will have the full Oceania tour with this exciting book, which uses photographs, maps, and fact-filled text to paint an inspiring picture of Australia and the Pacific Realm.
Southeast Asia and the Pacific Realm is a region dominated by islands, including the continent of Australia. Its landscapes range from tropical rainforests to dry deserts and active volcanoes, and to the south is the icy continent of Antarctica. This title examines how this diverse region of sharp cultural contrasts is meeting the challenges of the 21st century.
Australia and the Pacific Realm is a region that comprises thousands of islands in the Pacific Ocean, from tiny atolls to the world's smallest continent. The histories of area governments are as distinct as the many island countries that exist in this region. This book explores the historical events, movements, and people who have shaped the region of Australia and the Pacific Realm. Fact-filled sidebars, beautiful photographs, and primary sources help readers connect with this region and its place in the larger world.
Thousands of studies have been conducted by social scientists in the villages and islands, and increasingly in the towns, of the Pacific. Despite this, there are few longitudinal studies of any great depth and sophistication in the region. The contributors to this book have all conducted long-term research in the islands of the Pacific. During their visits and revisits they have witnessed first-hand the many changes that have occurred in their fieldsites as well as observing elements of continuity. They bring to their accounts a sense of their surprise at some of the unexpected elements of stability and of transformation. The authors take a range of disciplinary approaches, particularly geography and anthropology, and their contributions reflect their deep knowledge of Pacific places, some first visited more than 40 years ago. Many of the chapters focus on aspects of socio-economic change and continuity, while others focus on specific issues such as the impact of both internal and international migration, political and cultural change, technological innovation and the experiences of children and youth. By focusing on both change and continuity this collection of 11 case studies shows the complex relationships between Pacific societies and processes of ‘modernity’ and globalisation. By using a long-term lens on particular places, the authors are able to draw out the subtleties of change and its impacts, while also paying attention to what, in the contemporary Pacific, has been left remarkably unchanged. Filling a gap in the studies of the Pacific region, this book will appeal to an interdisciplinary audience in the fields of anthropology, development, geography, and Asia-Pacific studies.
This volume provides an accessible scientific introduction to the historical geography of Tropical Pacific Islands, assessing the environmental and cultural changes they have undergone and how they are affected currently by these shifts and alterations. The book emphasizes the roles of plants, animals, people, and the environment in shaping the tropical Pacific through a cross-disciplinary approach involving history, geography, biology, environmental science, and anthropology. With these diverse scientific perspectives, the eight chapters of the book provide a comprehensive overview of Tropical Pacific Islands from their initial colonization by native peoples to their occupation by colonial powers, and the contemporary changes that have affected the natural history and social fabric of these islands. The Tropical Pacific Islands are introduced by a description of their geological formation, development, and geography. From there, the book details the origins of the island's original peoples and the dawn of the political economy of these islands, including the domestication and trade of plants, animals, and other natural resources. Next, readers will learn about the impact of missionaries on Pacific Islands, and the affects of Wold War II and nuclear testing on natural resources and the health of its people. The final chapter discusses the islands in the context of natural resource extraction, population increases, and global climate change. Working together these factors are shown to affect rainfall and limited water resources, as well as the ability to sustain traditional crops, and the capacity of the islands to accomodate its residents.
Written by the leading authorities on the plant diversity and ecology of the Pacific islands, this book is a magisterial synthesis of the vegetation and landscapes of the islands of the Pacific Ocean. It is organized by island group, and includes information on geography, geology, phytogeographic relationships, and human influences on vegetation. Vegetation of the Tropical Pacific Islands features over 400 color photographs, plus dozens of maps and climate diagrams. The authors’ efforts in assembling the existing information into an integrated, comprehensive book will be welcomed by biogeographers, plant ecologists, conservation biologists, and all scientists with an interest in island biology.
