I was wondering if they might have "modernized" in a completely different way if they had been left alone. Maybe we would have seen more environmentally friendly technology sooner because of their reverence for nature. Or maybe they would have moved away from that after a time. Who knows.

Our history is definitely not a pretty one. Conquering, exploiting the people and natural resources, etc, etc. It's sad how freedom for one group of people had to be built on slavery and the exploitation of others. But that's just life in general I suppose.

well, all the nature that was cut down to make cities would still be here. all the pollution caused by factories in the US wouldn't have been here. it'd be cool to still come here, but rather to experience it, to share in it with the (friendly) "tribes" living here, not take over it..