Kiribati History: An Overview of the Nation's Past
Kiribati, officially known as the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean. It is comprised of 33 atolls and islands, including the Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, and Phoenix Islands. Kiribati is one of the most isolated nations in the world, and its history is closely tied to its location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
The earliest inhabitants of Kiribati were the Micronesian people, who likely settled the islands around 3,000 years ago. These early settlers were seafaring people who traveled between the islands of the Pacific, trading goods and stories.
In the 18th century, the first European explorers arrived in Kiribati. The British explorer, Captain James Cook, was the first to map the islands in 1777. He named the islands the Gilbert Islands, after his patron, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir John Gilbert. In 1892, the British declared the Gilbert Islands a British protectorate.
In 1915, the British annexed the Gilbert Islands, along with the Ellice Islands (now Tuvalu) and other nearby islands, and formed the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. This colony was administered by the British until 1975, when the Ellice Islands were granted independence as Tuvalu. The Gilbert Islands remained a British colony until 1979, when they declared independence as the Republic of Kiribati.
Since independence, Kiribati has faced numerous challenges, including poverty, climate change, and overpopulation. The nation's economy is heavily dependent on foreign aid and remittances from citizens living abroad. The government has also implemented a number of programs to address the nation's environmental challenges, including a ban on commercial fishing in its Exclusive Economic Zone.
Kiribati is a member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. It is also a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the International Seabed Authority. In recent years, Kiribati has become increasingly involved in international affairs, including hosting the Pacific Islands Forum, a regional intergovernmental organization.
Kiribati is a unique nation, with a rich and diverse history. Its past is closely tied to its location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and its present is shaped by its efforts to address the challenges of poverty, climate change, and overpopulation. As Kiribati continues to grow and develop, its history will continue to be an important part of its identity.