>- the notion that these native peoples lived in perfect
>harmony and were somehow more attuned with nature than
>others...

Either you are connected to nature or you aren't. Reverence for life is not about his-story. Perfection is in the eye of the beholder but I do think that some cultures had more reverence than others.

>That's different from the commonly accepted definition for
>the beginning of civilization, but that's besides the
>point...

That is my point. I am after what is not accepted because there is some truth there, as well.

>I can't think of any European society in history
>that was ever that self-destructive.

I can but I am still at work...more later...