Pre-Settlement New York: Lenape "Mannahatta" and Abundant Wilderness

Before European arrival, the New York area was home to Lenape, Iroquois, and Algonquin peoples. Key descriptors:

• Names: "Mannahatta" (Lenape: "island of many hills") for Manhattan; "Lenapehoking" for the broader territory.
• Ecology: Dense forests (oak, hickory, pine), rolling hills, meadows, wetlands, abundant wildlife (deer, elk, bear, beaver, birds), fish-rich rivers.
• Climate: Four seasons—warm humid summers, cold snowy winters, mild spring/fall—similar to today.

Indigenous peoples lived sustainably, shaping the land through controlled burns, horticulture, and hunting. Early Europeans marveled at the "park-like" openness and productivity—a managed landscape, not pristine wilderness.