The Philippines was originally connected with Southeast Asia through a land bridge before the ice age. The majority of the background and history comes from the people of Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Hunters and gatherers crossed the land bridge nearly 30,000 years ago and brought the native language of Indonesians known as Austronesian with them. Most evidence of the earliest settlements was washed away when global warming at the end of the ice age caused the seas to rise around 17,000 years ago (Nadeau, 2008). The warm, humid, tropical zone of the Philippines worked to both an advantage and disadvantage when it comes to crops and resources. There were also some native animals that helped with farming and domestication. The archipelago of the Philippines had a long history of settlements before becoming the independent country they are today.
The Philippines’ settlement went through four main periods: pre-Spanish period, Spanish period, American period, and post-independent period. The pre-Spanish period started when the first people, known as Negritos, crossed a land bridge from the islands of Borneo and Sumatra to the Philippines. Following them came Malay people sporadically and settled in scattered communities along the coast (Philippines, 2006). The Spanish period started in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan claimed the island for Spain (Philippines, 2006). The Spaniards were joined by Chinese traders and introduced Islam to the people of the archipelago. They introduced the islanders Christianity soon after (Library of Congress, 1998-2013). The Spanish-American war brought on the American period, when the Americans defeated the Spanish on June 12, 1898. This period had a rough start with much causality from the Philippine-American war. After the differences were settled among the island people and Americans, the Americans’ helped set up a solid foundation for the Philippines to have a free and independent government. This led to the post-independent period of the Philippines governing themselves from 1946 to present day (Philippines, 2006).
During the early settlements of the Philippines, some crops and animals were known to be either native to the land or to the neighboring lands of Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia is known to be a soggy monsoon, which is important for growing rice. Rice is a tropical crop that can be grown and harvested in two ways: dry-rice cultivation and wet-rice cultivation. Both of these strategies were used in the Philippines. Most of the crops, such as rice, millet; a type of grass used for its seeds, and legumes were developed in northeastern India, Thailand, Burma, and China. The settlers to help harvest the crops by plowing the fields used carabao, a buffalo-like animal. The abundant amount of rice harvesting required a lot of cooperation and increased the population (Nadeau, 2008). With the neighboring lands having copious amounts of crops, they often traded with the Filipinos. When they traded with the west coast of Mexico, they were introduced to silver bullion and minted coin for which they exchanged Chinese goods like silk textiles and porcelain (Library of Congress, 1998-2013). Other animals brought to the Philippines by trade were dogs, pigs, and chickens, which originated in Southeast Asia (Nadeau, 2008).
In many ways the early settlements of the Philippines relates to the theories brought up in Jared Diamond’s novel Guns, Germs, and Steel. During his research Jared has a theory that the reason European countries are so much wealthier than countries like New Guinea, or the Philippines in this case, is because they were naturally blessed with more resources. The land in places like the Fertile Crescent had a surplus amount of opportunities to grow wheat, raise animals, and therefore cultivate and grow. In the Philippines, the land is too soggy in the tropical atmosphere that it makes it difficult for much of anything to grow. The island was also constantly being affected by global warming and was not ideal for domesticated animals. The Philippines is similar to New Guinea, whereas they depend mostly on imports, trade, and island knowledge to survive.
The Philippines had quiet the journey in early settlement. From the earliest people crossing a land bridge that was then covered from global warming to the later residents coping with wars and constant new powers. After finally becoming an independent country, they had much post war reconstruction to take care of. With the crops, goods, and animals that were brought to them through trading, they were able to create communities that grew into towns and cities. The Philippines is a good example to support Jared Diamond’s theory of the wealth of a country correlating to the resources provided.
The Philippines’ settlement went through four main periods: pre-Spanish period, Spanish period, American period, and post-independent period. The pre-Spanish period started when the first people, known as Negritos, crossed a land bridge from the islands of Borneo and Sumatra to the Philippines. Following them came Malay people sporadically and settled in scattered communities along the coast (Philippines, 2006). The Spanish period started in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan claimed the island for Spain (Philippines, 2006). The Spaniards were joined by Chinese traders and introduced Islam to the people of the archipelago. They introduced the islanders Christianity soon after (Library of Congress, 1998-2013). The Spanish-American war brought on the American period, when the Americans defeated the Spanish on June 12, 1898. This period had a rough start with much causality from the Philippine-American war. After the differences were settled among the island people and Americans, the Americans’ helped set up a solid foundation for the Philippines to have a free and independent government. This led to the post-independent period of the Philippines governing themselves from 1946 to present day (Philippines, 2006).
During the early settlements of the Philippines, some crops and animals were known to be either native to the land or to the neighboring lands of Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia is known to be a soggy monsoon, which is important for growing rice. Rice is a tropical crop that can be grown and harvested in two ways: dry-rice cultivation and wet-rice cultivation. Both of these strategies were used in the Philippines. Most of the crops, such as rice, millet; a type of grass used for its seeds, and legumes were developed in northeastern India, Thailand, Burma, and China. The settlers to help harvest the crops by plowing the fields used carabao, a buffalo-like animal. The abundant amount of rice harvesting required a lot of cooperation and increased the population (Nadeau, 2008). With the neighboring lands having copious amounts of crops, they often traded with the Filipinos. When they traded with the west coast of Mexico, they were introduced to silver bullion and minted coin for which they exchanged Chinese goods like silk textiles and porcelain (Library of Congress, 1998-2013). Other animals brought to the Philippines by trade were dogs, pigs, and chickens, which originated in Southeast Asia (Nadeau, 2008).
In many ways the early settlements of the Philippines relates to the theories brought up in Jared Diamond’s novel Guns, Germs, and Steel. During his research Jared has a theory that the reason European countries are so much wealthier than countries like New Guinea, or the Philippines in this case, is because they were naturally blessed with more resources. The land in places like the Fertile Crescent had a surplus amount of opportunities to grow wheat, raise animals, and therefore cultivate and grow. In the Philippines, the land is too soggy in the tropical atmosphere that it makes it difficult for much of anything to grow. The island was also constantly being affected by global warming and was not ideal for domesticated animals. The Philippines is similar to New Guinea, whereas they depend mostly on imports, trade, and island knowledge to survive.
The Philippines had quiet the journey in early settlement. From the earliest people crossing a land bridge that was then covered from global warming to the later residents coping with wars and constant new powers. After finally becoming an independent country, they had much post war reconstruction to take care of. With the crops, goods, and animals that were brought to them through trading, they were able to create communities that grew into towns and cities. The Philippines is a good example to support Jared Diamond’s theory of the wealth of a country correlating to the resources provided.
Reference List
Library of Congress. (1998-2013). One world nations online. Retrieved from
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Philippines-history.htm
Nadeau, K. (2008). History of the philippines. (pp. 25-27). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved from
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib/docDetail.action?docID=10271343&p00=the philippines
Philippines. (2006). In Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2007 (Vol. 2, pp. 1485-1502). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2589900162&v=2.1&u=asuniv&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=79a2eccdb90356bb87875ca51019ae30
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Philippines-history.htm
Nadeau, K. (2008). History of the philippines. (pp. 25-27). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved from
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib/docDetail.action?docID=10271343&p00=the philippines
Philippines. (2006). In Countries of the World and Their Leaders Yearbook 2007 (Vol. 2, pp. 1485-1502). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2589900162&v=2.1&u=asuniv&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=79a2eccdb90356bb87875ca51019ae30
Gallery
Additional Information
This would be a useful source when researching further information on the early settlements of the Philippines and how they got to where they are today. The main focus of this book is the religious background, the government, slavery, and the types of weapons they had.
Worcester, D. (1914). The philippines: Past and present. Macmillan, NY: Retrieved from http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071578416;view=1up;seq=404
Another helpful source would be this Religions of the World Encyclopedia online text. It covers the religious practices of the Philippines throughout history from the first people through the Spanish and American conquers. It also covers a brief history of when the country became populated and from where the people migrated.
Walker, G. (2010). Religions of the world: A comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices. Retrieved from
http://literati.credoreference.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/content/entry/abcrw/philippines/0
Worcester, D. (1914). The philippines: Past and present. Macmillan, NY: Retrieved from http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071578416;view=1up;seq=404
Another helpful source would be this Religions of the World Encyclopedia online text. It covers the religious practices of the Philippines throughout history from the first people through the Spanish and American conquers. It also covers a brief history of when the country became populated and from where the people migrated.
Walker, G. (2010). Religions of the world: A comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices. Retrieved from
http://literati.credoreference.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/content/entry/abcrw/philippines/0