Final answer:
The claim that Rapa Nui clans were completely independent and did not share resources is false. Clans did compete, but also shared resources especially in times of scarcity. Environmental resource depletion and European contact significantly impacted their society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Rapa Nui was divided into territories with competing clans who were distinct and independent religiously, economically, and politically and did not share resources is false. While the clans on Rapa Nui, known for their iconic moai statues, did compete, they operated within a network of social and economic interactions, which included the sharing of resources, especially during times of environmental stress. The exploitation of natural resources and deforestation indeed posed significant challenges for the inhabitants, leading to detrimental impacts on their society. Nevertheless, the island's complex social and political structures facilitated some level of resource-sharing.
European contact brought diseases and additional pressures that significantly altered and contributed to the collapse of Rapa Nui's society. Invasions and competition for limited resources further compounded the struggles faced by the local population. Environmental degradation, coupled with these external factors, led to the transformation and eventual downfall of Rapa Nui's traditional society.