History Of Fiji

Fiji's more than three-hundred islands are individually trimmed with stunning coral reefs and lapped with breathtaking warm blue waters where diving is superb and snorkeling is amazing. Amidst these beautiful islands is a history that has made Fiji what it is today, a bracing mix together of cultures at ease in a blissful setting.

The history of Fiji dates back to about three-thousand-five hundred years ago with the arrival of the first Fiji inhabitants from Melanesia, establishing a hierarchal civilization based on tribes. There is little information on the history of islanders prior to influx of Europeans, who came in the middle of the seventeenth century; they were a variety of missionaries, shipwrecked sailors, and missionaries.

Relationships between the new settlers and the native community were fairly good, established on mutual-benefits in commercial activity. However, during the 1860's creations of plantations weakened the economy and serious friction followed between the Europeans and Fijian chiefs, centering on the matter of land ownership.

On a larger scale, the imperial competition in the Pacific among main European powers reached a climax, and Fiji turned into a British colony in 1874. Huge numbers of Indian workers were imported to build up a plantation economy, which is responsible for today's ethnic mix in the island; and accordingly, the existing tension among the two major communities, staining Fijian politics from the time when the country got its liberty in 1970, and making an impact on the history of Fiji.

The next seventeen years in the history of Fiji after its independence, the judicious conservative Alliance Party ruled without interruption. The foreign rule before (and still is) generally pro-Western and directed towards the regional alliances development, like the South Pacific Forum. Fiji is also a Commonwealth member, although its membership was momentarily suspended in 1987 and once more in 2000.

At the latest in the history of Fiji, it has been taken over by a military coup which has taken control of the country on December 5, 2006. The coup was a conclusion to the weeks of conjecture after conflicts between Commodore Bainimarama and voted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase occurred. Commodore Bainimarama is currently in control of the country and assumed the role of the Presidency.

Amidst all these controversy in Fiji, the country has still been a destination for some travelers, and this may not be surprising as Fiji really exceeds its natural beauty and fascinating blend of various cultures.