Pre-European Marquesan Culture
The Marquesas Islands were colonized by sea-faring Polynesian as early as 300 A.D., most likely from the area of Samoa. The dense population was concentrated in the narrow valleys, and consisted of warring tribes, who sometimes cannibalized their enemies.
Marquesan Culture 1595-1945
Native Marquesan culture was devastated in the period following the arrival of European explorers. While the decline in Marquesan culture can in small part be attributed to the activities of Christian missonaries, the primary cause of its collapse can be directly linked to the catastrophic effects of alien diseases, especially smallpox, which reduced the population by an estimated 98%.
Modern Marquesan Culture
Today, Marquesan culture is a mélange created by the layering of the ancient Marquesan culture, with strong influences from the important Tahitian culture and the politically important French culture.
The Marquesas Islands in Western Culture and Civilization
Famous French painter Paul Gauguin and Belgian singer Jacques Brel spent the last years of their lives in the Marquesas, and are buried there. Brel composed a famous song, Les Marquises, about the Marquesas Islands, his last home.
The Marquesas provided inspiration to American novelist Herman Melville, whose experiences in the Marquesas formed the basis for his novel Typee.
Robert Louis Stevenson visited the Marquesas in 1888, and wrote about his experiences and impressions there in 1900, in a book called In the South Seas.
Thor Heyerdahl wrote his book Fatu Hiva during a year-long stay on that island.
The island group is also mentioned in passing in the Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young) song, The Southern Cross.
The Marquesas Islands temporarily received an international spotlight in the United States when the reality TV show Survivor: Marquesas was filmed there. It was the fourth installment of the TV series Survivor.
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Last updated: 05-27-2005 00:32:07
