How did Native American societies adapt prior to European contact?

Native American societies adapted to their diverse environments in a variety of ways, which helped them thrive before European contact. These adaptations were largely influenced by the geographical regions in which they lived. For example, tribes in the eastern woodlands engaged in agriculture, cultivating crops like maize, beans, and squash, while those in the Great Plains relied heavily on bison hunting and developed a nomadic lifestyle to follow herds. Societies in the arid Southwest built complex irrigation systems to support agriculture in dry climates, while coastal tribes utilized fishing and gathering food from the rich marine resources available to them. This adaptability to local resources and conditions showcases the ingenuity of Native American societies and their deep understanding of their environments.

While large empires did exist among some Native American groups, such as the Aztec and Inca, these were not representative of all Native American societies across the continent. Conversion to Christianity occurred later with European contact and was not a prior adaptation. Adopting European technologies came after exploration and colonization, rather than prior to European presence. Therefore, the choice highlighting the adaptability of Native American societies to their diverse environments best reflects the various survival strategies they employed before European contact.