Final answer:
The Native American lifestyle before European contact was in tune with nature, socially complex, and without individual land ownership. They ranged from hunter-gatherers to established farmers, with sophisticated political structures. The arrival of Europeans dramatically affected their way of life, introducing concepts like private property and modern technology.
Step-by-step explanation:
Native American Lifestyle Before European Contact
Before Europeans arrived, the Native American lifestyle was deeply connected with nature, with a sophisticated and highly developed societal structure rich in oral history. Native Americans had a communal approach to land, where it was shared amongst everyone, and they would move as needed to access water and food sources. Their societies ranged from hunter-gatherers in harsh climates to established farming communities in fertile lands.
Hunting and gathering were still prevalent, and the introduction of the horse by the Spanish enhanced the Plains Natives' ability to follow and hunt bison. The Native American political landscape was varied, including small family bands led by designated leaders, as well as large political confederacies like the Iroquois. The Pre-Columbian era was a time of travel, trade, making war and peace, and cultural adaptation. Europeans, upon arrival, encountered a world much different than theirs, with no concept of individual land ownership, significantly impacting the natives' way of life and even their warfare practices as they adopted firearms and metal tools.
The clash of civilizations led to a dramatic change in native societies, and by the 1700s, they began to lose control over their territories to the encroaching European settlers. However, both cultures eventually influenced each other, with Natives incorporating European commodities like textiles and utensils into their daily lives. The diversity and adaptability of Native American cultures played a crucial role in the shaping of what would become the United States.