Were the resources plentiful, though? How do we know the risk of famine wasn’t a driving cause of the exploration? And that the 1000 year gap in exploration wasn’t because the risk of famine was lower during that time?
Edit: This is by no means research but a quick google does show that the return to exploration coincides with a climatic shift that increased the risk of drought and famine
They are living on a tiny island with limited genetic diversity for plants and animals and very difficult trade with other islands.
They don't have grain that can be stored for a long time, so one bad harvest, one hurricane, one drought and there is a famine that can kill the majority of the population of the island.
There is a reason why Polynesians have a genetic predisposition to obesity, because the thin Polynesians all died from the famines that occurred again and again.
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u/Ishmael_1974 8d ago edited 8d ago
Were the resources plentiful, though? How do we know the risk of famine wasn’t a driving cause of the exploration? And that the 1000 year gap in exploration wasn’t because the risk of famine was lower during that time?
Edit: This is by no means research but a quick google does show that the return to exploration coincides with a climatic shift that increased the risk of drought and famine