6. Early American Explorers and Great Plains ‘Emptiness’
European settlers famously described the Great Plains as an empty wilderness, failing to recognize the thriving, complex societies of Native Americans who inhabited the region for centuries. This misconception served as a justification for westward expansion, erasing the rich cultures and histories that shaped the landscape.
As detailed in Smithsonian Magazine, these misunderstandings continue to influence perceptions of North America’s indigenous past.
