Like That for example. [img]rolleyes.gif" border="0[/img] Little known fact about many Native cultures, is that they have ancient myths and stories about their once misusing mother nature for selfish arrogant ends and suffering as a result of it. One of the more common themes, if memory serves, is about the animal spirits turning against them and plant spirits in the form of medicine coming to their rescue, young hero figures coming back with the necessary prescriptions to regain the balance after the old magician's tricks failed. That's why they consciously taught their young hunters to respect their prey and young farmers to respect the soil, thereafter.

The Mayans and Toltecs were exceptions to the rule, being highly stratified (eventually) warrior societies with high populations, and even They never went Near as far as we have abusing the Earth. Serious droughts due to major volcanic activity thousands of miles away also undermined them. Reliable birth control also hadn't been discovered Anywhere yet, with the possible exception of a couple Amazonian herbs still being studied (quietly) and the myth of self imposed abstinence OC...

ETA: And I find it interesting that there's rarely mention anymore that the end of the Ice-age coincided with the end of mega fauna Everywhere in the world, some of it coming from diminishing habitats and invading species other than man. Native Americans are now more commonly recognised as having entered the New World well Before these catastrophic events. (well before 'Kennewick man' too...) That doesn't mean that every 'Indian' can just be assumed to be a natural environmentalist either, certainly not anymore, that too would be kinda presumptious. Just means that we're not in a strong position to lecture Them about preserving nature.

[ 04 August 2006: Message edited by: EriKtheHalfaRed ]