Medieval Tonga

Medieval Tonga

The islands of Tonga were settled some 3000 years ago. By the 13th century Tonga was dominated by kings who ruled most of Polynesia. In 1643 Abel Tasman visited the island, followed by the explorer James Cook in 1773. Cook named the islands the Friendly Islands. Several years after Cook's visit British missionaries arrived & the islands of Tonga came under British political influence. [BM] {UA}