~il. Cuitural and Historical Data A. Cultural History The Marshallese have had a long history of contact with foreigners of several nations. Each has left its imprint on the culture of Ehe islanders. After Magellan discovered this part of the world in 152, Spain slowly advanced her military, political, economic and religious Pacific. dgontrol But not until] the 19th century were the Marshalls her vast imperial holdings in any formal sense. Spain's weak, seized however, that an aggressive Germany had in the [made a part of @ontrol was so c@ntrol of the trade and Marshalls late in the century. German administration encouraged established copra production Although limited a as public works an the development economic program was Marshallese culture was not a profound one. base pf for commenced, e Marshalls. fhe impact on Qne important cliltural change brought about by the Germans, however, was the cessation of the interisland warfare between chiefs seeking hegemony over the territofies of their rivals. Japan seized control of the Marshall Islands in 191% and in 1922 established a civil] government under a mandate of the Leagife of Nations. Under firm Japanese control the economy prospered for the firgdt time. older citizens still remember the Japanese with some fondnes& were abundant and education, modern agriculture, Thus, because jobs impgoved fishing techniques, and modern communications systems were introduced. In 1947 the United States accepted a United Nations twusteeship for what came to be termed the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands. comprised [ncluding all the former Japanese mandated islands, This the Marshalls, which had been reconquered by American forces duwing World War IT. Whalers, explorers, missionaries, and government officials -- all played a part in bringing about changes in Marshallese cultugal practices. Cultural changes effected by the Germans, Japanese, and the fAmericans are evident today in all the islands of the archipelago. fEuroflean clothing, Japanese cars, "American" food, constitute the most obvious evfidences of the changed way of life of the Marshallese Marshallese Language, is alive and well, demands of a rapidly changing world. people. and '‘Kajing is adapting Majol', the itself to the The old Marshallese relfgious beliefs and practices are no longer in evidence nor easy to discovem, but some of the old values still express themselves through the social organization and the death rituals. il