Overview
This lecture discusses the origins, migrations, and shared cultural traits of the Austronesian peoples, emphasizing the Out of Taiwan model as the leading explanation.
The Out of Taiwan Model
- The Out of Taiwan model is the mainstream scientific theory for the origin of Austronesian peoples.
- Taiwan is seen as the ancestral homeland of Austronesian-speaking groups, including Filipinos, Indonesians, Malaysians, Pacific Islanders, and people of Madagascar.
- Around 3,000 BCE, Austronesians migrated from Southeast Asia to Taiwan, then spread to the Philippines, Borneo, and the Moluccas by 1500 BCE.
- Subsequent migrations reached Oceania, Papua New Guinea, various Pacific Islands, New Zealand, and Madagascar.
Austronesian Migrations and Expansion
- Austronesians developed ocean-going sailing technology enabling extensive Pacific and Indian Ocean voyages.
- They settled and traded across a wide region from Hawaii and Easter Island to Madagascar and New Zealand.
- Present-day Filipinos, Indonesians, and Malaysians (excluding Negrito peoples) descend from Austronesians who remained when others migrated farther.
Shared Linguistic and Cultural Heritage
- Austronesian groups have a common linguistic ancestry despite diverse languages.
- Shared cultural traits include tattooing, stilt houses, jade carving, wetland agriculture, and rock art.
- Common domesticated plants and animals carried during migration include rice, coconuts, bananas, chickens, pigs, and dogs.
- Other shared practices: moveable houses, rice terracing, betel nut chewing, distinctive pottery, dental modifications, and similar religious and architectural elements.
- Some social norms were shared, though not all are accepted today.
Regional Diversity and Statehood
- Austronesian societies remained fragmented due to vast island geography and unique local cultures.
- No unified Austronesian state existed; political unification only occurred recently.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Austronesian — a group of peoples sharing related languages originating from Taiwan, spreading across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
- Out of Taiwan Model — theory stating Austronesian peoples migrated from Taiwan to Southeast Asia and beyond around 3,000 BCE.
- Negrito — indigenous groups in Southeast Asia, not descended from Austronesian migrants.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Prepare for a discussion on colonial influences and pre-Hispanic Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist impacts in the next lecture.