Final answer:
The 16th-century Native Americans were engulfed in a complex struggle due to European colonization attempts which led to land conflicts, cultural misunderstandings, and devastating diseases. Indigenous groups fought to preserve their culture and lands while facing a new reality dictated by European colonial ambitions and societal structures. Major conflicts like King Philip's War were symptomatic of the deep tensions arising from these rapid and unwelcome changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 16th-century Native American experience in New England was indeed a 'maze of confusing actions and individuals fighting to maintain an existence in the shadow of change.' This complexity arises from numerous factors. Firstly, the onset of European colonization brought about unprecedented demands on the native populations, such as for land, trade, and the expectation of religious conversion to Christianity. Europeans did not fully understand the rich and diverse tribal nation's culture and often misrepresented the sovereignty of these groups, further complicating relations.
Conflicts like King Philip's War were fueled by the grievances of Indigenous people against English encroachment on their land, dishonest trade practices, and other injustices. Moreover, widespread diseases introduced by Europeans decimated native populations. All these actions threatened their traditional ways of life, forcing Native Americans to navigate a rapidly changing world.
The geopolitical landscape of North America during the mid-seventeenth century became fragmented with competing colonial ambitions, resulting in violent clashes and uneasiness. As Europeans continued to expand their colonies such as those in the Chesapeake Bay and New England, Indigenous people fought wars to keep their territories. Despite these struggles, Native American peoples like Mohegan, Narragansett, and Wampanoag tried to maintain their cultures and autonomy, emphasizing a communal relationship with the land, devoid of strict boundaries, unlike European systems of land ownership.