The Population and Settlement of the PhilippinesThe Philippines is an island country that was originally connected to Southeast Asia and was settled at least over 30,000 years ago. It is an archipelago that consists of 7,100 islands and islets. The earliest settlement evidence was cleared away when global warming caused the seas to rise about 17,000 years ago (Nadeau, 2008). The Philippine’s history and background is connected from the people of Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Malaysia. The population and settlement of the Philippines has overcome many obstacles, obstacles that have led the Philippines to become an independent country today.
The Philippines had four periods of settlement, the Pre-Spanish period, Spanish period, American period and Post-Independence period. The Pre-Spanish period began when the first inhabitants arrived to the Philippines. This group of people known as the Negritos crossed the land bridged from Borneo and Sumatra. During the early settlement of the Philippines, crops and animals were known to be either native to its lands or to the lands of Southeast Asia. It is believed that the early settlers helped harvest the crops such as wet-rice, dry-rice and millet. The rice is a tropical crop that can grow and become harvested in dry or wetland; these strategies were used in the Philippines. The early settlers also helped harvest the crops by plowing the fields used an animal that had a similarity to the buffalo along with carabo. Other animals that were brought to the Philippines by trade were pigs, chickens and dogs (Nadeau, 2008). In 1521 Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Island of the Philippines, this claim started the Spanish period (Philippines, 2006). The Spanish-American War was the cause for the American period; during this period it is when the Americans defeated the Spaniards and were joined by the Chinese traders. Joining the Chinese traders allowed the introduction of Islam as well as Christianity to the people of the archipelago (Library of Congress, 1998-2013). After the Spanish-American War, came the American period. Defeating the Spaniards once again in June 12, 1898 the American’s helped the Philippines have a solid foundation for a free and independent government. A solid foundation that would later bring the post-independent period, a period that allowed the people of the Philippines to have a self -governing law that is valid to present day (Philippines, 2006). Jared Diamond’s theory in his research of Guns, Germs and Steel state that European countries are wealthier and have a more successful produce due to their natural amount of resources, resources that New Guinea did not have. I believe that the early settlements of the Philippines had similar issues as New Guinea due to the weather and the climate, a climate that gives their lands a tropical atmosphere that made it difficult to grow other crops other than rice. The island of the Philippines was and continues to depend mainly on imports and trades. Their hands and island knowledge to survive continues to be an important role in many areas of the Philippines just as New Guinea; a survival weapon that continues to help them overcome their day to day life, a life that continues to allow them to survive daily. The Philippines is a country that has over come many challenges, challenges that allowed them to be the free independent country they are today. Many areas continue to grow and have successful growth through their import and trade. Although many communities today continue to live a lifestyle that many lived years ago, the repair they had to fix throughout the years, has allowed them to be the country they are today. The Island of the Philippines and its history is a great example of the research and theory of Jared Diamond’s theory, an example of the wealth of a country through the natural riches of what the lands provide for crops and harvest. |
References
Nadeau, K. (2008). History of the philippines. (pp. 25-27). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved from
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib/docDetail.action?docID=10271343&p00=the philippines
Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved July 05, 2016, from
https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/Demographic-trends#toc272975
Library of Congress. (1998-2013). One world nations online. Retrieved from
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Philippines-history.htm
Nadeau, K. (2008). History of the philippines. (pp. 25-27). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved from
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/lib/asulib/docDetail.action?docID=10271343&p00=the philippines
Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved July 05, 2016, from
https://www.britannica.com/place/Philippines/Demographic-trends#toc272975
Library of Congress. (1998-2013). One world nations online. Retrieved from
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Philippines-history.htm
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Settlement and Season Maps
The Philippines is located in Southeast Asia. It is in a position where it has become a country of cultural crossroads. Map shows St. Francis Xavier approaching Mindanao and is bordered by Mestizos, Indios, Negritos and Vignettes of Sangleys. The Negritos were the first people known to have crossed over to the Philippines from the Islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
Beltran, M. R. (2012, July). Three Hundred Years of Philippine Maps from 1598 to 1898. Retrieved July 04, 2016, from http://www.mariaronabeltran.com/2012/07/three-hundred-years-of-philippine-maps.html
The climate on this map shows the seasons that each area in the Philippines consists of on a yearly basis. The blue, red and green zones show a dry season from November to April and rain through out the rest of the year. The yellow zones have a more or less rainfall though the year. The Dry and/or Rainfall season that all areas reflect, are climates that will allow the rice grain to be harvest in the Philippines.
Philippines (2013). (n.d.). Retrieved July 04, 2016, from http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/CNPP2013_CD/countryprofiles/Philippines/Philippines.htm
Additional Information
The following sources are additional information that will help you further your research on the history of settlements of the Philippines. Information provided on the first link is being recommended as it provides information about the past and present of the Philippines as well about their religion and government. The second link provides information about the early agriculture over the years, production and productivity.
Worcester, D. (1914). The philippines: Past and present. Macmillan, NY: Retrieved from https://archive.org/details/afj2380.0001.001.umich.edu
Habito, C. F., & Briones, R. M. (2005). Philippine Agriculture over the years: Performance, Policies and pitfalls. Retrieved from
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPHILIPPINES/Resources/Habito-word.pdf
Habito, C. F., & Briones, R. M. (2005). Philippine Agriculture over the years: Performance, Policies and pitfalls. Retrieved from
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPHILIPPINES/Resources/Habito-word.pdf
Population Pyramids
Both population pyramids reflect a different amount of the population in the Philippines as well as the decrease of childbirth. Comparing both, some of the changes that I see are the majority population age range is also decreasing as it is becoming more equal from the ages of 0-39 years old. I predict that by the year 2048 based, the mix of males and females in the Philippines will be closer to each other as well as the amount of its majority of population will have a higher decrease of childbirth, families will have less children making the chart decrease by percentage making the pyramid reflect a more equivalent amount between the middle age range group and children. The future of the Philippines might have an impact in many areas of the country when it comes to providing for their families as it is believed that the more children a family has the harder it is to provide. Comparing the pyramids from the early days to today and what the future holds, although the population increases, the birth amount of children per family will decrease.
Pyramid No.1
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Pyramid No.2
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