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Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands are named after British Captain John Marshall, who saw the islands 1788. The local name is Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ, with Aolepān meaning "all or entire," Aorōkin means "valuable or important", and Ṃajeḷ means "muscle."
Aolepān Aorōkin M̧ajeļ
Introduction:
The people on the Marshall Islands have lived off the land for nearly as long as they have lived on the islands. Numerous waves of people immigrated in early history, each slightly changing the ethnicity, language, and culture. What these people eventually created is the Marshallese language and ethnicity today, which is a Micronesian language and ethnicity. While the historic culture and lifestyle are still rooted in the people and way of life, modern changes and influences have altered the country vastly today.
Most of the Marshallese are Micronesian, giving the people a great number of similarities to other Micronesian people, particularly with people from the Gilbert Islands in Kiribati and the many of the people living in the Federated States of Micronesia. All these people likely relied heavily on the lands as their historic lifestyle was focused on the lands and seas around them for survival.
The flag of the Marshall Islands has a couple layers of symbolism. The colors have varying meanings: blue represents the ocean, orange the sunset, courage, and the Ralik Island Chain, and the white symbolizes sunrise, peace, and the Ratak Island Chain. The orange and white stripes also represent the equator. From this viewpoint, the large star just above it displays the location of the Marshall Islands just north of the Equator. The large white star as a whole also symbolizes Christianity; while the rays coming off the star have additional meanings. The 24 rays represent the electoral districts in the country, while the four large rays represent the four major cultures on the islands: Majuro, Jaluit, Wotje, and Ebeye.
Name: Republic of the Marshall Islands
Independence: October 21, 1986
Capital: Majuro
Currency: U.S. Dollar
Population: 69,747 (2013 estimate)
Ethnicity: Marshallese (Micronesian)
Language: Marshallese & English
Religion: Protestant
With the arrival of the Europeans, the culture and lifestyle in the Marshall Islands changed. The Spanish, Germans, and later the Japanese settled the islands to a degree, primarily for economic gain. They introduced new technologies as well as new foods, languages, and other cultural aspects. However, one of their most lasting and important influences came with the introduction of Christianity. Nearly everyone in the country today is Christian and this religion changed the people's mindset, their dress, and more.
These minor, but ever-changing introductions have continued into the present as the Marshall Islands have a partnership with the United States. Although the people remain tied to the lands and seas in so many ways, they are regularly adopting new technology and continuously change as they become more globalized, such as the push to learn English as a second language.
Learn More About the Marshall Islands:
Map of the Marshall Islands:
Information for the Marshall Islands was last updated: May, 2013 ● View our: Sources & Special Thanks