Island at the End of the World: The Turbulent History of Easter Island

摘要: Famed for its breathtaking isolation, Easter Island was a verdant South-Sea idyll when small canoeful of Polynesians arrived in c. ad 700. Centuries later the island's statues were famous throughout world. This book presents, first time English language, history told by writer who is intimately familiar with island, people and their extraordinary story. When voyaging South Pacific became far less widespread around 1500, Islanders stranded on desert-like isle, forced to adapt survive. The European visitors, 1722, encountered thriving total surrounded huge architectural platforms fitted stones topped hundreds monolithic busts. Subsequent intruders brought trade, disease, violence, adapted this change, too, through cultural re-invention: new leaders, rituals, gods. Steven Roger Fischer relates compelling unique region: how wars, smallpox Great Death decimated Catholic missionaries 1866 relieve suffering dying people, despotic Frenchman claimed island himself, but then killed remaining islanders - population only 111. author also examines modern colonization annexation Chile. He peaceful insistent civil rights movement 1964-65 whereby Rapanui granted citizenship could move freely about again 70 years. Today, has increased, as tourism from 2,000 visitors 1991 20,000 2001 which continues be managed themselves. Foreign interest never been so keen, majestic archaeological endowments still one Earth's most impressive. much-needed little-known remarkable island.