Austronesian expansion

The Austronesian expansion refers to a major movement of people from Southeast Asia around 3000 BCE onwards, who gradually spread across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. They voyaged on boats, settling on islands from Madagascar to Hawaii and New Zealand. This migration led to the spread of the Austronesian language family and influenced local cultures, agriculture, and maritime skills. It represents one of the most extensive and successful maritime dispersals in human history, shaping the diverse island societies we see today across Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Madagascar.