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History of Fiji, a survey of notable events and people in the history of Fiji, a country and archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean. It surrounds the Koro Sea and is about 1,300 miles (2,100 km) north of Auckland, New Zealand. The archipelago consists of some 300 islands and 540 islets scattered.
The majority of Fiji 's islands were formed through volcanic activity starting around 150 million years ago. Today, some geothermic activity still occurs on the islands of Vanua Levu and Taveuni. [1] Fiji was settled first by the Lapita culture, around 1,500–1,000 years BC, followed by a large influx of people with predominantly Melanesian ...
- Early Fijian History. Fiji’s early history has been interpreted through archaeological findings and oral history. We know that the Lapita people resided in Fiji through Lapita pottery findings, while many Fijians know the legend of the first settler who arrived in Fiji, Lutunasobasoba.
- The Arrival of the Europeans. Avoided for its treacherous reefs, Fiji didn’t really connect with the Western world until around the 1800s. A few brief encounters were made in the early European exploration days, such as Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sailing past the island of Taveuni in 1643 and British navigator James Cook making note of Vatua Island in the Lau Islands of Fiji in 1774.
- Indenture of Indian Labourers. During the early days of British colonisation in Fiji, an outbreak of measles wiped out about a third of the Fijian population.
- Independence and the Four Coups. After World War 2, the focus in Fiji was on politics and separation in the political system between the Fijians and the Indian labourer descendants, now commonly known as “Indo-Fijians”.
Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first known European visitor to Fiji, sighting the northern island of Vanua Levu and the North Taveuni archipelago in 1643 while looking for the Great Southern Continent. [34] James Cook, the British navigator, visited one of the southern Lau islands in 1774.
The timeline below shows the history of the island Fiji, from the ancient times to the present day.
Apr 5, 2023 · Updated: March 22, 2024. FJ. The Fiji Islands are an interesting blend of various cultures, namely Melanesian, Polynesian, Indian, European, and Chinese. This mix is reflected in the food, the language, and the striking architecture of new and old.
