wil.
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 the islanders.
After Magellan discovered this part of the world in 1520, Spain slowly
advanced her military, political, economic and religious control
Pacific.
But not until the 19th century were the Marshalls made a part of
her vast imperial holdings in any formal
weak,
in the
however,
that
an
aggressive
sense.
Germany
Spain's control was so
had
seized
control
of
the
trade
and
Marshalls late in the century.
German
administration
established
copra
Although
limited
a
encouraged
production
as
public works
an
the
development
economic
program was
Marshallese culture was not a profound one.
base
for
commenced,
of
the
Marshalls.
the
impact
on
One important cultural change
brought about by the Germans, however, was the cessation of the interisland
warfare between
chiefs
seeking hegemony over
the
territories
of
their
rivals.
Japan
seized control
of the Marshall
Islands
in 1914 and
in 1922
established a civil government under a mandate of the League of Nations.
Under firm Japanese control the economy prospered for the first time.
Thus,
older citizens still remember the Japanese with some fondness because jobs
were
abundant
and
education,
modern
agriculture,
improved
fishing
techniques, and modern communications systems were introduced.
In 1947 the United States accepted a United Nations trusteeship for
what came to be termed the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands.
comprised
all
the
former
Japanese
mandated
islands,
including
This
the
Marshalls, which had been reconquered by American forces during World War
II.
Whalers,
explorers,
missionaries,
and
government
officials
--
all
played a part in bringing about changes in Marshallese cultural practices.
Cultural changes effected by the Germans, Japanese, and the Americans are
evident today in all the islands of the archipelago.
European clothing,
Japanese cars, “American” food, constitute the most obvious evidences of the
changed
way
of
life
of
the
Marshallese
Marshallese Language,
is
alive and well,
demands of a rapidly changing world.
people.
‘Kajin
Majol',
the
and is adapting itself to the
The old Marshallese religious beliefs
and practices are no longer in evidence nor easy to discover, but some of
the old values still express themselves through the social organization and
the death rituals.