The Pacific World encompasses the history of the peoples and islands of the Pacific Ocean.

The settlement of the Pacific Islands (Oceania) by Austronesian peoples was one of the greatest feats of human migration and navigation.

These migrations, using outrigger canoes, took place over thousands of years, reaching as far as Easter Island, Hawaii, and New Zealand.

European contact with the Pacific World began in the 16th century with Ferdinand Magellan's expedition.

The most extensive European exploration of the Pacific was conducted in the 18th century by Captain James Cook.

In the 19th century, the Pacific became a zone of competition for European and American imperial powers, who sought colonies and naval bases.

The Pacific Theater was a major arena of conflict during World War II, culminating in battles like Midway and Okinawa.

The post-war era saw the decolonization of many Pacific islands.

The region became a site for nuclear testing by the United States, Britain, and France during the Cold War.

Today, the Pacific Rim, which includes East Asia and the west coasts of the Americas, is a major center of the global economy.