History of Papua New Guinea

The history of New Guinea’s eastern region and nearby islands, from early human settlement through colonial rule to the independent state established in 1975.

Kuk Swamp: An archaeological site in the highlands of Papua New Guinea with evidence of plant cultivation dating back thousands of years. Its wetland remains document early agriculture in the island’s eastern highlands.
German New Guinea: Germany’s colonial possessions in the northeastern part of New Guinea and nearby islands from the late nineteenth century to 1914. German rule established one of the colonial administrations later incorporated into the country.
Michael Somare: The Papua New Guinean politician who became the country’s first prime minister at independence. Somare led the government through the transition to independence.
New Guinea campaign: A series of Allied and Japanese military operations in New Guinea during the Second World War. The campaign brought intense fighting to the territory and reshaped its wartime administration.
Austronesian expansion: The spread of Austronesian-speaking peoples and languages across Island Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Austronesian migrations helped shape coastal and island societies in the region.
British New Guinea: The British-administered southeastern part of New Guinea, later known as Papua. Its colonial institutions became part of the territory that gained independence.
Albert Maori Kiki: A Papua New Guinean politician and author who helped found the Pangu Pati and campaign for self-government. His party helped organize the political movement that led toward independence.
Kokoda Track campaign: A 1942 campaign in which Australian and Japanese forces fought along a track across Papua’s Owen Stanley Range. The fighting made Papua a major front in the Pacific War.
Papuan languages: A diverse group of languages spoken mainly in New Guinea and nearby islands, not belonging to the Austronesian family. Their diversity reflects the region’s long history of settlement and cultural separation.
Territory of Papua and New Guinea: The Australian-administered territory formed by uniting Papua and the former Australian New Guinea mandate. Its political institutions and boundaries preceded the independent state.

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History of OceaniaBroader topic: Its independence followed a distinct colonial administration and complex linguistic landscape.