Government
What is the main industry driving French Polynesia’s economy?
Tourism
When did Polynesians first settle on Easter Island?
Around 800 - 1200 CE
Who was the first European to visit Easter Island, and what did he find?
Jacob Roggeveen in 1722. He found large stone statues called moai.
What jobs do many people in Tahiti have today?
Their economy relies on agriculture, pearl farming, and fishing, but mostly on tourism, which provides many jobs in hotels, restaurants, and tour services.
Where does the Easter Island name originate from?
Easter Island's name originated from Easter Sunday 1722, when the first Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen arrived on the land of an isolated island of Polynesia.
Who were the two main kinship groups in Rapa Nui?
Tu’uaro and Hotuiti
Who held the highest position in traditional Tahitian society, considered semi-divine and responsible for governance?
Alri’i
Which navigator led the first French expedition to Tahiti in 1768, aiming to annex the island?
Louis-Antoine de Bougainville
What is the current population of Easter Island?
Approximately 8,000 people
What is a major export of French Polynesia?
Black pearls
What tradition determined who would be king?
an egg hunt decided it.
What significant impact did the arrival of European missionaries have on Tahitian society in the late 18th century?
Introduced formal education and literacy
Who conducted Easter Island's first systematic archaeological survey in the early 20th century?
Katherine Routledge.
What country is Tahiti a part of today?
Tahiti is part of France as an overseas collectivity. It is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia in the central Southern Pacific Ocean.
How many Moai statues are there in Easter Island?
1,000 enormous stone statues called Moai, which are believed to represent the faces of ancestors.
What is a significant source of revenue for French Polynesia's government?
Financial assistance from France
What ecological consequence did the construction of moai and agricultural expansion have on Easter Island?
Deforestation and soil erosion
What devastating impact did European diseases have on the Maohi population after their arrival in Tahiti?
Diseases like smallpox and influenza, which decimated the Maohi population
Name a few activities people can do on the island.
Bike rides, snorkeling, scuba dive
What is a popular crop grown in French Polynesia?
Coconuts
What was the main goal of the Rapa Nui Parliament?
To reclaim all Rapa Nui lands and protect them from outside influence.
After the arrival of Christianity, how did traditional Tahitian festivals change?
They included Christian elements alongside older customs
Who led the first European expedition to Tahiti in 1767?
Samuel Wallis
How is the climate in Easter Island?
Subtropical
How do the Rapa Nuian transport the Moai, and what is it placed on ?
Rapa Nuian transports the Moai statues using a combination of log rollers, sledge and ropes.