A Brief History of the Pacific

This brilliantly concise history of the Pacific Ocean succeeds in examining both the indigenous presence on the ocean's islands and Western control or influence over its islands and shores. There is a particular focus on the period from the 1530s to 1890, with a greater Western coastal and oceanic presence in the Pacific, beginning with the Spanish takeover of the coasts of modern Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, and continuing with the Spaniards in the Philippines.

There is also an emphasis on the very different physical and human environments of the four quadrants of the Pacific—the north-east, the north-west, the south-east, and the south-west—and of the 'coastal' islands, such as the Aleutians, Japan, and New Zealand, along with continental coastlines. The focus is always on the interactions of Japan, California, Peru, Australia, and other territories with the ocean, notably in terms of trade, migration, and fishing.

Black first examines the geology, currents, winds, and physical make-up of the Pacific, followed by the region's indigenous inhabitants up to 1520. He describes the Pacific before the arrival of Europeans, its history of settlement, navigation methods, and religious practices.

The focus then shifts from Easter Island to European voyages, from Magellan to Cook and Tasman, highlighting the challenges they faced, particularly the immense scale of the ocean. Black discusses the impact of these voyages on local people, including the presence of Russians in the Aleutian Islands.

From 1788 to 1898, outside control of the region grew, with the British laying claim to Australia and America to the Philippines. Western economic and political impacts manifested in sandalwood and gold rushes, and the coming of steamships accelerated this influence.

Territorial claims spread through figures like Willis and Perry and the Americans, including to Hawaii. Black examines the Maori wars in New Zealand and the War of the Pacific on the South American coast. Christian missionary activity increased, while Gaugin offered a different vision of the Pacific.

The period from 1899 to 1945 marked the struggle of empires, featuring the rise of Japan as an oceanic power and the Second World War in the Pacific as a critical moment in world history.

Oil-powered ships heralded the American Age from 1945 to 2015, leading to the end of the British Pacific. France maintained a role in regions like Tahiti and New Caledonia, but America established itself as the dominant presence. Black explores the political, economic, and cultural impacts, such as Polynesians attending universities in America and Australasia, the spread of rugby, and relatively little international tension, though some domestic pressures remained, including instability in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

A Brief History of the Pacific concludes with an examination of these themes and events, offering a comprehensive overview of the region's complex history.