The
Austronesian ancestors of the
Micronesians settled there over 4,000 years ago. A decentralized chieftain-based system eventually evolved into a more centralized economic and religious culture centered on
Pohnpei. People from the
Caroline Islands had regular contact with the
Chamorro people of the
Marianas Islands, as well as rarer voyages into the eastern islands of the
Philippines.
Yap and the Yapese Empire Yapese Empire From circa 1500 BC, before the beginning of foreign colonial administration by Western powers, the island of
Yap created and maintained a unique set of socio-economic and political relationships with neighbouring islands to its east and southwest in what is known as the
Yapese Empire. Although small-scale and informal, the Empire
per se was formed when what is now known as
Gagil Municipality through the chief village of Gatchaper, developed and maintained a maritime trade and political network with smaller atolls and island groups between Yap and
Chuuk, covering over approximately 1,500 kilometres (932.01 miles) of the western Pacific. Through a relationship known as
sawey, the Empire demanded tribute known as
Pitigil Tamol to be given to the paramount chief of Gagil in Gatchaper. These tributes would include bagiiy (
lavalava), coconut rope,
coconut oil,
mats and
shells. In return, Gagil would reciprocate with mutual support from the main island in case of
natural emergencies as well as
goods. These goods from Gagil would include Yapese
canoes,
turmeric,
flint stone and other Yapese resources. Although each village has its own class ranking within the
municipality based on the number of military victories, each village also has its own internal set of social classes exclusive to that group. All low classes and low-class villages were under the authority of villages that were ranked higher since the latter had considerable power and voice (
lungun). to ); and
Mwehin Nahnmwarki (Period of the Nahnmwarki, to ). Pohnpeian legend recounts that the
Saudeleur rulers, the first to bring government to Pohnpei, were of foreign origin. The Saudeleur centralized form of absolute rule is characterized in Pohnpeian legend as becoming increasingly oppressive over several generations. Arbitrary and onerous demands, as well as a reputation for offending Pohnpeian deities, sowed resentment among
Pohnpeians. The Saudeleur Dynasty ended with the invasion of
Isokelekel, another semi-mythical foreigner, who replaced the Saudeleur rule with the more decentralized
nahnmwarki system in existence today. Isokelekel is regarded as the creator of the modern Pohnpeian
nahnmwarki social system and the father of the Pohnpeian people.
Nan Madol offshore of
Temwen Island near
Pohnpei, consists of a series of small
artificial islands linked by a network of canals, and is often called the
Venice of the Pacific. It is located near the island of
Pohnpei and was the ceremonial and political seat of the
Saudeleur Dynasty that united Pohnpei's estimated 25,000 people until its centralized system collapsed amid the invasion of
Isokelekel. Isokelekel and his descendants initially occupied the stone city, but later abandoned it. ==European colonisation==