Before the arrival of the Europeans in 1777, Tongan influence stretched across the Pacific, from Samoa to Fiji. The ancient Tongans developed a bustling and varied culture. Archeological digs in Tonga regularly produce incredible artifacts. Yet perhaps the most significant monument to the industry of the ancient Tongans is an impressive limestone slab structure known as Haamonga A Maui.
Although archeologists can only speculate as to how the Haamonga A Maui was built, many believe that the ancient Tongans understood advanced engineering techniques. Tongans today demonstrate similar industry and efficiency. While many uneducated people believe that Tonga is merely a protectorate of nearby New Zealand, the truth is that Tonga exerts a significant amount of economic control on the region.
A Brief History of the Kingdom of Tonga
Captain Cook was the first European to touchdown on Tonganese soil. Indeed, theres a monument to his arrival on the beaches of Tonga. As Western influence spread across the islands, natives began to adopt certain aspects of Western culture. For instance, Christianity became widespread. Modern Tonga reflects a sophisticated and diverse tapestry of ethnicities and cultures.
Although in many ways Tonga is a patchwork, it is also a work in progress. The Islanders simultaneously embrace and resist modernizing forces. They collectively covet the economic stability and power that comes with progress, but they fear that adapting Western business methods may harm their natural environmental wonders.
