What is micronesia

Nauru was put under Australian control, while the other German-controlled islands came under Japanese rule. Nauru was the first country in Micronesia to become independent in , followed by Kiribati in Agriculture and fishing are the mainstays of the economy in the region of Micronesia, mostly on a subsistence basis. The main staples include breadfruit, taros, coconuts, bananas, yams, cassava, and sweet potatoes. Some people in Micronesia raise livestock, such as pigs and dogs.

In Nauru and Kiribati, the mining of phosphate was a major economic activity. By the late 20th century, however, the phosphate deposits were largely exhausted. There is some commercial fishing activity in the waters of Micronesia. In addition, countries in the region have allowed other countries to use their territory for specific activities. Nauru, for example, has hosted many people seeking asylum in Australia.

Tourism is another industry that has seen significant growth in recent years. Despite some development of local industry, however, the countries and territories of Micronesia are still heavily dependent on foreign aid for revenue, which comes mainly from the US. The people of Micronesia are a mixture of many different ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups.

Most of the population of the region are of Micronesian descent, with some having mixed Micronesian and Melanesian ancestry. There are also small groups of Southeast Asians and Europeans.

The countries of Nauru, Palau, and Kiribati are inhabited mostly by their own Indigenous populations. There are also many different languages and dialects spoken in Micronesia. In terms of religion, although some people in Micronesia still practice Indigenous religious traditions, the majority of the population is now Christian. Micronesians are mostly affiliated with either the Roman Catholic Church, or Protestant denominations.

Inasmuch as Western culture has significantly changed the way of life for Indigenous Micronesians, traditional customs and practices are still alive and well in the region.

Some Micronesians still wear traditional dress. In the Federated States of Micronesia, for example, male members of the Yap and Chuuk peoples still wear loincloths, while women wear grass skirts, called L avalavas sarongs. Some in the region are still great seafarers and are even able to construct traditional Micronesian outrigger canoes. For entertainment, many Micronesians enjoy traditional dances and music.

In Kiribati, for instance, song and dance competitions are very common. Then Kanoa, the missionary to Micronesia , made a prayer; after which, he and his wife sung a Micronesia n hymn. New Word List Word List. Save This Word! Federated States of Micronesia, a group of islands in the western Pacific, in the Caroline Islands, comprising the islands of Pohnpei, Truk, Yap, and Kosrae: formerly a part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands ; now a self-governing area associated with the United States.

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms. Words nearby Micronesia micromyelia , micromyeloblast , micromyeloblastic leukemia , micron , micronation , Micronesia , Micronesian , micronize , micronodular , micronucleate , micronucleus.

How to use Micronesia in a sentence Stretched across boards and swatches of windsurfer sails, the staffs suggest rafts, whether of the actual sort Davis saw while traveling in Micronesia or symbolic ones on which to brave rising sea levels. Still, visitors are able to access areas of interest in the country, and along the way they are afforded a glimpse into the daily activities of the people of the country.

English is the official language of the government and of commerce. Many elderly people are fluent in Japanese. Some common phrases for each of the main languages are available below:. They are actually a heterogeneous mixture with different customs and traditions bound together by recent history and common aspiration.

The cultural diversity is typified by the existence of eight major indigenous languages, although English remains the official language of commerce. The cultural similarities are indicated by the importance of traditional extended family and clan systems found on each island.

Each of the State has developed unique cultural characteristics which are important to the potential outsiders especially those interested in visiting or investing in the islands.

In Kosrae State, the Congregational Church plays an extremely important role in everyday life while in Chuuk, clan relationships remain an important factor.

Yap continues as the most traditional society in the FSM with a strong caste system. Over the last 15 years Pohnpei has rapidly developed as the most westernized state in the nation. This results in large part because the national government is located here. At the same time, traditional leadership continues to play an important role. The people of the FSM are culturally and linguistically Micronesian, with a small number of Polynesians living primarily on Nukuoro and Kapingamarangi atolls of Pohnpei State.

The influence of European and Japanese contacts is also seen. It can be said that each of the four States exhibits its own distinct culture and tradition, but there are also common cultural and economic bonds that are centuries old.

For example, cultural similarities are evidenced in the importance of the traditional extended family and clan systems found on each island. Although united as a country, the people are actually a heterogeneous mixture with different customs and traditions bound together by recent history and common aspirations.

The cultural diversity is typified by the existence of eight major indigenous languages, and its peoples continue to maintain strong traditions, folklore and legends. The four states of the FSM are separated by large expanses of water. Prior to Western contact, this isolation led to the development of unique traditions, customs and language on each of the islands. There is a rich oral history. Part of this history is a unique musical heritage.

The traditional music is carried forward from generation to generation, although upon tuning into the local radio station the visitor is far more likely to hear the distinctive sounds of Micronesian pop music, which has also developed its own character from state to state.

Influenced obviously by traditional music, the FSM's pop music also draws from influences as diverse as American country and western, reggae, and modern europop. The basic subsistence economy is based on cultivation of tree crops primarily breadfruit, banana, coconut and citrus and root crops primarily taro and yam supplemented by fishing.

Small scale agriculture and various traditional fishing practices continue today. Sharing, communal work, and the offering of tributes to the traditional leaders are fundamental to the subsistence economic system and the culture of the island societies of the FSM.

The basic economic unit is the household, which consists primarily of extended families. Larger solitary social groups found on most of the FSM islands are matrilineal clans. Traditional political systems, such as the Nahmwarki Political System on Pohnpei and the Council of Pilung on Yap, continue to play an important role in the lives of the people of the FSM today. The FSM has a rich history dating back several thousand years.

The islands were originally settled by ancient people sailing east from Asia and north from Polynesia. Later discoverers and settlers included the Spanish, Germans, and Japanese and evidence of their former presence is found throughout the islands.