Why was the so-called Yapese empire based mainly on trade and ceremonial relationships rather than military control?

The so-called Yapese empire was not a military empire in the traditional sense, but rather a network defined by ceremonial exchange and trade relationships between the high island of Yap and the low-lying atolls of the central Carolines.12

The Yapese did not exert direct military control over these islanders. Instead, their influence was maintained through a system of perceived supernatural authority. The Yapese claimed the power to inflict disasters—such as cyclones, disease, and famine—upon the low islanders should they fail to fulfill their ceremonial and tributary obligations.2

This structure functioned as a mechanism for mutual support and resource management. The interisland trade provided the low islanders with essential aid and temporary refuge during the frequent devastation caused by cyclones, while the high islanders received goods such as shell beads, pandanus mats, and woven cloth. Consequently, the relationship was rooted in a complex web of social and spiritual expectations rather than the use of physical force.32