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2.5 Canal Networks Across New Zealand, there are significant engineering feats from past centuries, one of the most notable being the construction of canals to drain swamps for agricultural production and fish management. A few key examples of these feats are: Lower Wairau River Canal System In 1912, the Journal of the Polynesian Society  published details of a canal system discovered in the Lower Wairau River, Marlborough. This intricate network stretches around 20 km in le

Previous blogs have explored two categories of evidence suggesting the possibility of human habitation in New Zealand over two thousand years ago. Māori Oral History Evidence Archaeological Evidence: Artefacts and Features Two additional categories will be introduced in upcoming blog posts. Evidence from DNA Analysis Origins of the Māori Language 3.      Evidence from DNA Analysis The Māori population exhibits significant physical diversity, with variations in skin tone, hair

Origins of the Māori Language Evolution of Māori Language All languages are constantly evolving. As cultures interact and merge, languages borrow words, phrases, and grammatical structures from each other. When different languages come into contact, they can influence each other, leading to changes in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Māori is a subgroup of the family of Malayo-Polynesian languages.   T hey are spoken across a vast area, including Southeast Asia, Melane

Origins of the Māori Language Influence of Sanskrit on Māori The Aryan Maori by Edward Tregear To understand the development of the Māori language, it can be insightful to compare it with other languages. One approach is to examine the similarities between Māori and the Sanskrit language. Abraham Fornander in Hawaii and both John MacMillan Brown and Edward Tregear in New Zealand independently concluded that Polynesians, including Māori, shared an Aryan ancestry with Europeans

The Possibility of Pre-Polynesian Settlement in New Zealand The previous Blogs have explored this question. Now is the time to weigh up the strength of the evidence to reach a view on the subject: Who were New Zealand's first settlers? Introduction The prevailing academic consensus holds that New Zealand was first settled by East Polynesians around 1280 AD. However, an alternative theory proposes that New Zealand may have been inhabited by earlier peoples—possibly arriving ov

How India shaped the world: I recently visited India to explore how this country has evolved and what drives it today. Over a span of 1,450 years—from around 250 BC to 1200 AD, a period known as the Common Era — India had a profound impact on the world through its religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture. Notably, Indian influence spread not through military conquest but through the power of its ideas. India: Hindu Temple 2000 Years Ago India’s Influence

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1,450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period), Indian religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture had a profound impact across the world from the Red Sea to the Pacific. Notably, the strength of India’s ideas was key to spreading its influence—not through the power of its sword! This is how India shaped the world! Westward Expansion Indian mar

How India shaped the world: I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1,450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period), Indian religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture had a profound impact across the world from the Red Sea to the Pacific. Notably, the strength of India’s ideas was key to spreading its influence—not through the power of its sword! Overseas trading ship in South-East A

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. A major natural asset facilitating India’s maritime trade is its peninsula position , strategically located between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal . The efficiency of maritime routes far exceeds that of overland routes, making sea travel the preferred method for movement between India, the Middle East , and South-East Asia/Eastern Asia . Likewise, traders from these regions relied on

How India shaped the world: I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. During the 1,450 years from 250 BC to 1200 AD (known as The Common Period ), the spread of Indian religion  had a profound impact  across South, Central, South-East, and Eastern Asia . Even today, over half of the world’s population  lives in areas where Indian religious ideas  once dominated or still hold significant influence. Indian Trade as a Key Driver for

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1,450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period ), the spread of Indian religion had a profound impact on South, Central, South-East, and Eastern Asia . Today, over half the world’s population  lives in areas where Indian religious ideas are, or once were, dominant. Buddhism to China How India shaped the world: A key figure in Buddhism’s spread to China was Xuanza

How India shaped the world: I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1,450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period ), the spread of Indian religion had a profound impact on South, Central, South-East, and Eastern Asia . Today, over half the world’s population  lives in areas where Indian religious ideas are, or once were, dominant. Borobudur Temple. Indonesia Hinduism and Buddhism in South-East Asia In

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1,450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period ), the spread of Indian religion had a profound impact on South, Central, South-East, and Eastern Asia . Today, over half the world’s population  lives in areas where Indian religious ideas are, or once were, dominant. Bagan (Myanmar) An ancient city  in Myanmar Hinduism and Buddhism in South-East Asia How India shap

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period ), Indian religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture had a profound impact across the world from the Red Sea to the Pacific . Notably, the strength of India’s ideas  was key to spreading Indian influence—not through the power of its sword! Written Sanskrit Indian Soft Power India’s contribution to

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period ), Indian religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture had a profound impact across the world from the Red Sea to the Pacific . Notably, the strength of India’s ideas  was key to spreading Indian influence—not through the power of its sword! Indian Influence Remains Today The religions from India cam

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In the 1450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period ), Indian religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture had a profound impact across the world from the Red Sea to the Pacific . Notably, the strength of India’s ideas  was key to spreading Indian influence—not through the power of its sword! This how India shaped the world! Traditional Indian Educati

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today (and to continue my research on how India shaped the world). In the 1450 years from about 250 BC to 1200 AD (called The Common Period ), Indian religion, trade, science, technology, mathematics, and culture had a profound impact across the world from the Red Sea to the Pacific . Notably, the strength of India’s ideas  was key to spreading Indian influence—not through the power of its sword!

I recently visited India to explore how this vibrant country has evolved and what drives its rich and complex culture. One of my key takeaways was the enduring influence of royal families and their historical role in shaping India’s identity (and how India shaped the world) — a legacy that continues even today. Nine Royal Families Still Thrive in Modern India Despite India’s transition to independence in 1947, I noticed that the remnants of its royal past remain active, espec

I recently visited India to explore how this country evolved and what drives it today. In 1947-48, a momentous event occurred: Indian independence and the establishment of Pakistan took place almost simultaneously. The Road to Independence Faced Many Hurdles British Rule:  By 1849, India was effectively under British control, with the cooperation of a few states governed by their own rulers. From the mid-1700s, the British East India Company gradually transferred India’s manu

Location of Varanasi I recently visited India to learn about how this country evolved and what makes it tick today. One major insight was the key role the city of Varanasi plays in the spiritual well-being of India. Varanasi is regarded as the centre of the world  and the city of the gods . It is believed to be blessed with special dispensation from the cycle of re-birth that dates back to the origins of creation and rebirth. Key Learnings: Where: Varanasi is located on the w

Buddha Preaching to First Five Disciples I recently visited India to explore how this vast and dynamic country evolved and what drives it today. While in Varanasi—the spiritual centre of Hinduism—I discovered its connection to the birth of Buddhism, a faith that developed as a response to the Hindu caste system and the dominant role of Brahmin priests. My journey through this sacred history led me to Sarnath, just outside Varanasi, where Buddhism first took root. Religion is

I recently traveled to India to explore how this fascinating country has evolved and what drives it today (As well as to further research on how India shaped the world). While India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, it’s also among the most unequal. Stories of extreme poverty coexist with accounts of India’s rise as a global superpower. How has this stark dichotomy come to be? Here’s what I learned: The Size of the Divide Two simple facts underscore the im

Urban Versus Rural Divide Around 75% of India’s population lives in rural villages, where infrastructure, services, and employment opportunities are far more limited compared to urban areas. The agricultural sector struggles with low productivity, outdated farming practices, and little bargaining power with buyers, resulting in meager incomes for farmers. Rural Women Washing Clothes in Pond Yet, despite these challenges, India stands as a global agricultural leader. It produc

Rich-Poor Divide Within Major Urban Areas The Greater Mumbai area is home to an estimated 22 million people, with approximately 11.5 million residing in the central part of the city. Of these, around 60%, or 6.5 million people, live in slums. During my visit, I toured Dharavi, the largest slum in Mumbai, which houses an estimated 1 million people. Dharavi was also the setting for the Hollywood film Slumdog Millionaire - a modern pop culture example of how India shaped the wo