The Theoretical Trajectory of Native American Technology

[TriflinThomas]

What would Native American technology look like if it was allowed to develop naturally? Let's say that Native Americans were left alone by the Europeans, I think they would have come up with more environmentally-aware/sustainable technology. I also think that their technology would have advanced at a much faster rate (compared to Europeans) because they would have tried to mimic natural processes that are already quite efficient.

 

[Milo]

Perhaps you should look at the civilizations in New Guinea. There is a documentary on netflix about them. I don't remember what it was called, but they still do not have technology much better than a few different types of arrows for their bows specific for different uses, rope, poor clothing, and trees in houses. They had other things, but they aren't even worth noting. I really don't think the Native Americans would have gotten as far as it is today "naturally."

Do you have any novel ideas for some "natural technology" that is more effecient or close to as efficient as some of today's? Just wondering.

 

[intpz]

What would Native American technology look like if it was allowed to develop naturally? Let's say that Native Americans were left alone by the Europeans, I think they would have come up with more environmentally-aware/sustainable technology. I also think that their technology would have advanced at a much faster rate (compared to Europeans) because they would have tried to mimic natural processes that are already quite efficient.

Evolution at it's best - squish the friendly nations by forcing them to adopt your policies.

Too bad we cannot go back in time, only go forth, and not too efficient either at this point.

 

[Architect]

I doubt it, in tens of thousands of years they developed nothing more advanced than the spear, bow and arrow and the teepee. No reason to think that an extra thousand would make any difference; they would likely be the same ten thousand years from now if left alone.

I had a discussion about this once with an INTP friend. How come the Europeans and Chinese developed all the technology? Why not the pacific island cultures, africans, etc? The best we developed is that there seems to be correlation to marginal land and technology development. The equatorial people had it good - nice fruit on the trees, plenty of women, why bother developing tech? The Chinese had population pressure, and the Europeans lived on marginal land.

You can also look at Guns, Germs and Steel for another, similar theory.

 

[Cognisant]

Let's say that Native Americans were left alone by the Europeans,

They were, for a very long time.

I also think that their technology would have advanced at a much faster rate (compared to Europeans) because they would have tried to mimic natural processes that are already quite efficient.

That's baseless and absurd.

How come the Europeans and Chinese developed all the technology?

Trade I suspect, technology needs to be used and by having a wider market available via more developed trade networks the cost of developing new technologies becomes more justifiable, this is why for a time the middle east was by far the most technologically developed region in the world.

 

[Architect]

Trade I suspect, technology needs to be used and by having a wider market available via more developed trade networks the cost of developing new technologies becomes more justifiable, this is why for a time the middle east was by far the most technologically developed region in the world.

Good theory. However most cultures engage in trade including Native Americans. To hold up it would have to be something like the type of trade, perhaps with very diverse cultures.

 

[intpz]

That's interesting @Architect, never thought about that, and since I'm not, I see your theory as one that I like.

 

[TriflinThomas]

Perhaps you should look at the civilizations in New Guinea. There is a documentary on netflix about them. I don't remember what it was called, but they still do not have technology much better than a few different types of arrows for their bows specific for different uses, rope, poor clothing, and trees in houses. They had other things, but they aren't even worth noting. I really don't think the Native Americans would have gotten as far as it is today "naturally."

Do you have any novel ideas for some "natural technology" that is more effecient or close to as efficient as some of today's? Just wondering.

Was there a reason why they didn't develop advanced technology?

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Was there a reason why they didn't develop advanced technology?

Because they didn't need it?

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

@ OP Don't be transfixed by the romantic image of Native Americans portrayed by popular media. The bulk of their technological improvement would be centered around war, with other advancements in agriculture and medicine would round out the rest. You could also expect quite a bit of utilitarian improvement regarding things like pottery, weaving techniques, and trapping methods. Cultural evolution would be more pronounced.




But none of it would have anything to do with sustainability or mimicing natural processes outside of pure coincidence.

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

And one really tends to bastardize Jared Diamond's work if they can't just point out that Native Americans didn't have domestic livestock, due to the Anna Karenina principle. Just sayin'.

 

[TriflinThomas]

Because they didn't need it?

Also, now that I think about it, I can't see how they would harness electricity.

 

[ℜεмїηїs¢εη¢ε]

How come the Europeans and Chinese developed all the technology?

Pick one:

Spoiler

Spoiler

 

[TriflinThomas]

@ OP Don't be transfixed by the romantic image of Native Americans portrayed by popular media. The bulk of their technological improvement would be centered around war, with other advancements in agriculture and medicine would round out the rest. You could also expect quite a bit of utilitarian improvement regarding things like pottery, weaving techniques, and trapping methods. Cultural evolution would be more pronounced.




But none of it would have anything to do with sustainability or mimicing natural processes outside of pure coincidence.

Good points. I didn't really think this one through (and I was baked... but I mostly didn't think it through )

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I also think that their technology would have advanced at a much faster rate (compared to Europeans).

A major reason for technological progress, especially for the European countries, is combination of trading, exploration, and the plundering of foreign technology & science.

Native American lifestyles seemed pretty simple from what I'm familiar with, and with Europeans traveling all over the hemispheres, a faster rate of technological progress just seems unlikely.


I really wish we had a resident social sciences expert(academic, not wikipedia).

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

I personally would have loved to see what the unadulterated Iroquois would have produced, given their relatively unique system of government.

 

[walfin]

I'm not sure of anything except that the Cherokee alphabet would probably have looked different.

The equatorial people had it good - nice fruit on the trees, plenty of women, why bother developing tech? The Chinese had population pressure, and the Europeans lived on marginal land.

I always thought it was the other way around - lack of surplus=lack of ability to innovate. The New Guineans had a hard time surviving on those Sago trees alone.

 

[Lot]

Has anyone read Guns, Germs, and Steel? That book explains why Europeans and eastern Asians advanced at the rate and in the way they did.

I'm sure most of the native Americans would have been conqueredby the Aztecs, if we wouldn't have traveled across the ocean. This could have increased tech on both sides, but ultimately the Aztecs would have conquered most of north America, IMO.

 

[TriflinThomas]

Has anyone read Guns, Germs, and Steel? That book explains why Europeans and eastern Asians advanced at the rate and in the way they did.

I'm sure most of the native Americans would have been conqueredby the Aztecs, if we wouldn't have traveled across the ocean. This could have increased tech on both sides, but ultimately the Aztecs would have conquered most of north America, IMO.

I've been reading Lies My Teacher Told Me, and it talks about how European diseases were a huge boon for the conquerors. I also think that the Aztecs would have taken over a large part of North America.

 

[intpz]

@Lot somebody liked the smile I used! *feels powerful and awesome*

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

Has anyone read Guns, Germs, and Steel? That book explains why Europeans and eastern Asians advanced at the rate and in the way they did.

I'm sure most of the native Americans would have been conqueredby the Aztecs, if we wouldn't have traveled across the ocean. This could have increased tech on both sides, but ultimately the Aztecs would have conquered most of north America, IMO.

It's on my bookshelf (read it ~4 years ago). Although I think the Aztecs are massively over-rated and would have self-imploded.

 

[Lot]

It's on my bookshelf (read it ~4 years ago). Although I think the Aztecs are massively over-rated and would have self-imploded.

I could see them imploding. Not completely out of the question. I'm sure there would be another empire ready to take it's place. The infrastructure was already laid out. And there was an elite class that was used to a higher quality of life, so they'd either try to keep it or regain it. So the Aztecs as an empire might not have done it, but the Aztecs, the people, would have... maybe.

There were some pretty big empires in North America at that time. Which is why I figure tech as a whole would increase, to address the new challenge. War has a way of fueling advances, and the market finds a way to turn those advancements into something useful to the general population. It would be interesting to see what they would have come up with, and how well the British empire would have been able to deal with a more united front, assuming the natives would be united at the time of invasion.

 

[intpz]

Aztecs? Didn't read the posts, just the word, so... They used to eat hearts and they called it a theater. They used to smoke (eat?) drugs and imagine shit like gods.

Priest: VIRGIN BLOOD!
1000 people near the temple: "HUAH! HUAH! HUAH! HUAH!"

Nice folks.

 

[TriflinThomas]

But virgin blood is the best...