Colonization
Cronon suggests that European believed them to be superior and more technologically advanced than Native Americans. As such, they did not look to them for advice on how to take care of the land. It is this arrogance that meant they had a limited understanding of how to make their resources last for a long time.
Respecting the land
Cronon argues that, unlike Europeans, Native Americans had a symbiotic relationship with the land they inhabited. They respected the land and took only what was necessary, such as crops and animals. However, they ensured to give back to the land by allowing natural cycles to continue. When Europeans came, they only sought to make a profit from the land and did not treat it with respect.
The ecosystem
Unlike the Native Americans, who carefully followed seasonal changes in order to make sure the ecosystem was not depleted, Europeans were destructive and damaged the land. Actions such as deforestation and soil exhaustion led to deprivation of the natural resources from the land, and more importantly, have been key contributors to climate change.
