Introduction
Environmental aspects play a considerable role in the growth and decline of communities and civilizations. The exploration of the history of the Americas provides various valuable insights into the ways societies developed and the factors affecting this development, which can assist contemporary people in avoiding various mistakes their ancestors made (Taylor American Colonies 12). The harsh environment made people in North America mainly rely on hunting, affecting their social organization, which was almost unnoticed by the newcomers from the Old World and became a ground for the entire continent’s conquest.
North America Before 1500
Although many people paid attention to migration during prehistoric times in the Americas, people migrated heavily, exploring new lands and trying to accommodate the features they encountered. People had a nomadic way of life as hunting and gathering remained the principal source of food for First Peoples until 500 A. D. (Taylor American Colonies 12). That was the time the first successful attempts to grow maize in diverse locations changed this pattern. Although many societies in south areas of North America learned to grow maize and some other corn, they still relied heavily on hunting. Those who inhabited the continent prior to 1500 experienced multiple crises that led to the deterioration of mighty kingdoms.
The decline of Communities and Civilizations
It is noteworthy that overpopulation and the inability to accommodate changing environmental factors led to an inevitable decline. For instance, although Hohokam and Anasazi people had prosperous towns and developed over several centuries, their evolvement abrupted in the late twelfth century (Taylor American Colonies 13). Civilizations and communities that lived later witnessed similar degradation caused by environmental issues and the lack of flexibility to accommodate. The arrival of Europeans was another external factor that enhanced the detrimental impact of the harsh environment.
First Europeans in the New World
Europeans were impressed by the wealth of nature in the new world and had a specific view of indigenous people. Newcomers believed that the people who lived in the New World were not civilized and had no religion (Verrazzano “The Relation of John da Verrazzano” 365). The traveler admitted that they had to learn about those people’s customs with a limited linguistic basis (with the help of several words or even gestures). Europeans were glad to jump to conclusions, as such assumptions justified their decision (as they saw it) to civilize people and invade new territories.
It is necessary to add that travelers such as Giovanni da Verrazzano concentrated on natural resources and physical distinctions between people they encountered. For instance, Verrazzano described lands, flora, and fauna in great detail and mentioned the availability of resources (water or minerals) (“The Relation of John da Verrazzano” 359). When describing people, the European mentioned physical traits and the way locals treated them, stressing them some communities were hostile to newcomers. Notably, the travelers (just like da Verrazzano) could hardly know about the environmental issues the people they met on the islands faced. The descriptions regarding inappropriate weather conditions were all related to the sea, and no details concerning temperatures or drought were provided (Verrazzano “The Relation of John da Verrazzano” 362). This contributed to the creation of an image of the New World as a Promised Land that resulted in European invasion.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the indigenous people of North America had to endure harsh environmental changes that led to major shifts in their lives and the overall decline of communities and entire civilizations. These external factors and the invasion of Europeans resulted in a catastrophe for many kingdoms and peoples. For centuries, Europeans, who soon became new settlers, saw the Americas as Promised Land with locals who could and had to be civilized rather easily.
Works Cited
Taylor, Alan. American Colonies: The Settling of North America. Penguin, 2002.
Verrazzano, Giovanni. “The Relation of John da Verrazzano of the Land by Him Discovered.” The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries, edited by Richard Hakluyt, Books on Demand, 2020, pp. 355-365.