Why Did The Easter Island Collapse

Words: 109
Pages: 1
Open Document
The people of Eastern Island represent another classic "lost" civilization, famed in part for its enigmatic, enormous stone statues of human heads (called Moai) lined up along the island's coastline. How did this thriving Polynesian civilization disappear after centuries of monument-building and navigating hundreds of miles of ocean waters to go from island to island? Jared Diamond sums up what many scientists now believe in his book Collapse, which is that the Easter Islanders were incredibly sophisticated, but their methods weren't sustainable. During the time they settled Easter Island, possibly between 700-1200 AD, they used up all the island's trees and agricultural resources, and then had to move
Show More

Related Documents: Why Did The Easter Island Collapse

Voyages: Easter Island and Joanne Van Tilburg Essay

Exam 1 October 14, 2014 Easter Island is a strange place with a lost past. The “navel of the world” has had quite a tumultuous history post European contact, but it seems scholars cannot quite decide what happened before the bearded men of Europe arrived on these distant shores. In this brief essay I will discuss the two strains of thought we covered in class, as well as the implications of both, and the evidence behind each theory. The first model for Easter Island’s beginnings and ultimate…

Words 1427 - Pages 6

Rapa Nui

The Island of Rapa Nui, or known as Easter Island, is a small island located on the south-eastern point of the Polynesian Triangle, which is comprised of Hawai’i, Aukland Island and Rapa Nui (Hamilton, 2013). Hamilton (2013) states that the island was initially inhabited by Polynesians, who were sailing eastward. However, it is debatable specifically where these Polynesians came from, and furthermore, it is disputed when Rapa Nui was colonized. Initially, through glottochronology, dated stratified…

Words 1854 - Pages 8

Essay about Easter Island

Up until 300-400 A.D., the Easter Islands’ were nothing more than piles of rock scattered about in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. No one knew they were there, and no one had any intentions of going out and leading a search for them. So there they sat, for however long it is that they did, and waited. They waited until, again, the 300-400 A.D. time frame, and found themselves with some visitors. These visitors would cause the islands to be put to use; to finally allow it to have a purpose…

Words 2068 - Pages 9

Easter Island Research Paper

Most know the Island as Easter Island, but many don’t know the history behind it, such as the original name, Te Pito O Te Henua meaning “The Center Of The World”. Many People don’t even know what is on the Island such as the ancient statues called the Moai statues carved by the Rapa Nui Tribe. The Moais were built in approximately 1400 AD 1650 AD to honor their dead ancestors. The Moai stand on the tribes that once were, but also reminding the native people of their culturally rich past. The 887…

Words 1536 - Pages 7