Cizinci mezi Papuánci - První kontakty na Nové Guineji – Soukup Martin (2017)

The interior of New Guinea Island was long a blank spot on western maps. Exploratory journeys in the 20th century revealed that large human populations lived there, isolated from coastal areas for millennia. The book addresses the interpretation of the first contacts between Papuans and foreigners, as the author refers to Europeans and Australians who dominated the island. The arrival of foreigners often shocked the Papuans. Due to the color of their skin, they were considered returning deceased ancestors, at other times dangerous spirits, or descendants of beings from the beginning of time, whose arrival heralded the end of the world. After the initial shock wore off, there were often violent clashes between foreigners and Papuans. This lavishly illustrated and engagingly written publication describes the course of significant exploratory journeys that brought the island's interior onto the maps. The author also discusses the colonial arrangement of the territories of Papua and New Guinea, describes contemporary racist views and practices, and shows how social anthropology provided foreigners with support for their civilizing activities on the island. Foreigners quickly managed to impose their own vision of civilization among the Papuans and forever change the character of the local cultures.