A Brief History
Modern history of Kiribati begins with the arrival of Micronesians into the South Pacific, which took place between 200 and 500 AD. During the l8th century, British Captain, Gilbert, discovered the central and northern islands of the Gilberts group which he named Gilberts (known as Kiribati). The arrival of the first Missionaries also marked the pioneering of Christianity into Kiribati and during late 1850s the first wave of Christian missionaries from the Boston Missionary Society when Rev. Hiram Bingham arrived on Abaiang Island. The second wave of Christian arrival was the arrival of Roman Catholic Priests from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who landed on the island of Nononuti in 1888. Christianity ever since became an integral part of the Kiribati culture.
In 1892 the Kiribati became a British Protectorate when Captain Davis hoisted the Union Jack on Abemama. Then in 1916 the Ellice Islands were combined with the Gilbert Islands to form the Gilbert & Ellice Islands Colony. During World War 2 Tarawa was also the scene of one of the fiercest and bloodiest engagements between the American and Japanese forces. Christmas Island or Kiritimati Island was discovered and named “Christmas Island” by Captain James Cook on his third Pacific voyage on 24th December 1777. The island also served as a base for early nuclear testing in the 1950’s to 1960’s. In 1975 the Ellice and Gilbert Island were separated and the Ellice group became independent in 1978, while internal self-government was attained by the Gilbert Group in two stages until it finally became a fully independent Republic on 12 July 1979 and recognized itself as “The Republic of Kiribati.”
