Jacob Roggeveen
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Jacob Roggeveen was a Dutch explorer who, on Easter Sunday in 1722, became the first European to visit the island that would later be named Easter Island. He encountered a population that had created hundreds of large, monolithic stone statues, known as moai, and found evidence of a complex society that had developed unique cultural practices. Roggeveen's visit marked the beginning of European interaction with the island, which had significant and often detrimental impacts on its inhabitants and their culture in the following centuries.12
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Pacific IslandsThe 18th centuryIn 1722 the Dutch admiral Jacob Roggeveen crossed the Pacific from east to west on a voyage of exploration that also had commercial objectives. He reached Easter Island, more of the Tuamotu Archipelago, the northern islands of the Society group, and some of the Samoan islands.
Read MoreIn 1722 the Dutch admiral Jacob Roggeveen crossed the Pacific from east to west on a voyage of exploration that also had commercial objectives. He reached Easter Island, more of the Tuamotu Archipelago, the northern islands of the Society group, and some of the Samoan islands.
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Easter IslandHistory…Island was the Dutch admiral Jacob Roggeveen, who paid it a single day’s visit in 1722. He and his crew found a population that they described as being of mixed physical types who worshiped huge standing statues with fires while they prostrated themselves to the rising sun. Some of them,…
Read More…Island was the Dutch admiral Jacob Roggeveen, who paid it a single day’s visit in 1722. He and his crew found a population that they described as being of mixed physical types who worshiped huge standing statues with fires while they prostrated themselves to the rising sun. Some of them,…
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French PolynesiaHistory of French PolynesiaThe Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen in 1722 discovered Makatea, Bora-Bora, and Maupiti. Capt. Samuel Wallis in 1767 reached Tahiti, Moorea, and Maiao Iti. The Society Islands were named for the Royal Society, which had sponsored the expedition under Capt. James Cook that observed from Tahiti the 1769 transit…
Read MoreThe Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen in 1722 discovered Makatea, Bora-Bora, and Maupiti. Capt. Samuel Wallis in 1767 reached Tahiti, Moorea, and Maiao Iti. The Society Islands were named for the Royal Society, which had sponsored the expedition under Capt. James Cook that observed from Tahiti the 1769 transit…
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