What were two of the main characteristics of Native Americans’ lives prior to the arrival of European settlers?

It is difficult to offer two main characteristics of Native Americans' lives prior to the arrival of European settlers, because there was a multiplicity of civilizations, with and without agriculture, and varying social hierarchies. But within the "difficulty" may lie the answer: there was a multiplicity of civilizations and widely varying social hierarchies. The level of sophistication among some civilizations is astounding and should never be underestimated. Centers of religion, science, trade and urban development in North, Central and South America reached pinnacles that rivaled those of the Old World. In the North, the Mississippian civilization, culminating in the great city of Cahokia, flourished; Central America was home to the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec civilizations; in South America were the great Incas and mysterious civilizations that long predated the Incas.
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