Their lives were dictated by the natural way of life. They relied on hunting for unlike the Europeans who hunted for sport and depended on domesticated livestock for food. This made the European men view the Indian men as lazy because while they did the hunting the Indian women were responsible for planting and growing crops. They constantly moved they never settled in a single area for their entire lives. "Indian communities had learned to exploit the seasonal diversity of their environment by practicing mobility: their communities characteristically refused to stay put" (Cronon 35). The exploitation of seasonal diversity referred to is the natural migration of animals based on the season changes. For example, "Bird migrations made their biggest contribution to Indian food supplies in April, May, September, and October when Canada geese, brants, mourning doves, and miscellaneous ducks passed though" (Cronon 40).
Even though the Europeans scoffed at the Indians way of living they were fascinated by the Native American's knowledge of preserving and purging the agricultural and hunting land. "What most impressed English visitors was the Indians' burning of extensive sections of the surrounding forest once or twice a year." "As William Wood observed, the fire 'consumes all the underwood and rubbish which otherwise would overgrow the country, making it unpassable and spoil their much affected hunting'" (Cronon 49) While the Native Americans depended on the exploitation of seasonal diversity the Europeans believed in settling and cultivating the land. This resulted in an immense use of agriculture in a single area. The biggest difference and change between the Indians and the European settlers was the Europeans dependence on domesticated livestock. "Domesticated grazing animals were arguably the single most distinguishing characteristic of European agriculture" (Cronon 128).