This class, taught by Gordon Talley, will explore the history of Polynesia and the people who inhabited it. Cape Codders identify with the water, but we can’t help but be envious of Polynesians. They spread their culture across ten million square miles of the Pacific Ocean in canoes and without a compass. Where did they come from and how did they do it? It’s puzzled Europeans since first contact in the late 1500s. We’ll look at the (harebrained and other) early theories, consult the oral legends, and learn what modern science reveals. In particular, we’ll dwell on the boats and sophisticated navigation skills that made it possible, as well as contemporary voyages that reenact ancient methods and keep this unique maritime culture alive.

Prior reading is not required. But if you are eager to explore in advance, Gordon will draw heavily from Christina Thompson’s Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia. Snow Library has a copy and others are available via Clamsnet.org.

Presented by the Friends of Snow Library. To register or for more information, visit https://friendsofsnowlibrary.org/lifetime-learning-program/.