The Art of the Pacific: The Pocket Visual Encyclopedia of Art

The immense expanse that opens up between Asia and the coast of America constitutes an ancient and fascinating world. The history of Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Easter Island, and Polynesia originated with ancient migrations from the continent of Asia. The most distant in time, which took place about 40,000 years ago, brought populations to Papua New Guinea and Australia. On these routes traced by the winds and currents populations and cultures appeared, integrated, and split up over the course of centuries, adapting themselves to a powerful nature that generated unique religious practices that also became artistic manifestations.