AST1000/e-Learning activities/Overview of historical events and issues

e-Learning activity summary
Title:	General overview of important historical events and issues in Asia and the Pacific
	5 - 6 hours
	Linked to Assignment 3

Start here

Stimulus: This Lapita jewellery box was uncovered at the Bourewa site in Fiji. Read more. The Lapita were a sea-faring people thought to be the ancestors of contemporary populations in Polynesia, Micronesia and some parts of Melanesia. This is an important historical artifact from the past. Radiocarbon analyses undertaken since the fieldwork at the Bourewa excavation indicates that the earliest occupation occurred between 1260-950 BC, probably around 1100 BC. Find out more about the: Incredible New Finds from Fiji’s Earliest Settlement.

Purpose

To identify and become more familiar with the history of the Asia-Pacific region. This e-learning activity also requires you to become familiar with online data searches and navigating your way around available information. You should continue to look for e-books and online journals as part of your research for this e-learning activity.

Tasks

1. Identify sources and begin reading general information relevant to an examination of historical events and issues in Asia and the Pacific, or a general overview of history in the region. You may focus your attention on the events or issues of most interest to you. Examples for topics include: Maori settlement of New Zealand; Indian migration to Fiji; the Great White Fleet in Asia; Qing dynasty, China; women’s rights in Asia/ or a specific country; Indigenous rights in a specific country within the region.
2. While you can start with Wikipedia for background information, make sure you extend your search so your primary information comes from online journals and books. Remember the Regional Relations Repository and Recommended Reference Materials list on the course homepage. They may be useful for ideas on where to locate sources of information.
3. After completing Steps 1) and 2), choose a specific issue or event you have read about that interests you. Write a 200-250 word overview of your chosen issue or event (it does not have to be one of the example topics above – you can come up with your own topic to suit your interests). You should use full citation details acknowledging the sources you used to prepare your response.
   
   

Learning outcome actions

Using the 'E-learning Activity and Personal Reflection e-Portfolio', upload your historical overview described in Step 3) above. This should be completed no later than the close (Friday) of Week 3. Please enter any useful online sources you accessed during this e-learning activity into the Regional Relations Source Repository located on the Study Desk. The e-moderator will add an overview of the comments after the closing date for submissions.