With the first Europeans came battles and wars as the people fiercely protected themselves. However, this began to change in the mid-1800s when missionaries arrived to the islands in increasing numbers. Most of the people eventually converted to Christianity, which opened the door to European settlement and colonization. This new religion also changed their culture and lifestyle in many ways, most noticeably in how the people dress.
World War II forever changed the culture and lifestyle. Much of the country's farmland and seas were destroyed as the Japanese lost the lands to the United States in famous battles, such as Guadalcanal. This led to the growth of cities and significant urbanization; it also introduced new technologies and ways of thinking. Despite the many changes in the lifestyle of the Solomon Islands, the people still cling to many aspects of their traditional culture, but the recent past and its introductions are impossible to miss in the daily lives of the people.