The religions of the Indians were all different, but along the same lines they were very spiritual and believed that many living things had spirits. Never the less Indians still had complicated and skilled irrigation systems, which are self-watering systems. They had roads, cities and trading networks. The Incas and the Aztecs, which lived in what is now referred as Mexico had even more extensive cities with huge populations and more advanced ways of life. .
As far as gender roles went, the Indian women were treated quite nicer than how women were treated anywhere else. They were looked as a helping hand. The men were in charge but Indian women would join in on tribal discussions and were also allowed to have sex with whom they please and divorce when necessary. Now the story turns when the Europeans started to flock in. Some were at first in awe of the Indians but later that turned in to not understanding there particular way of life and lead to viewing the Indians as barbaric people. They presumed that they worshipped evil spirits and did not have the "right" religion. The Europeans decided to barge in the Indians way of life simply because it was not the same as their own and they selfishly put economic pursuits above people. The way of life of the Indians being described, we would say that the life before the Europeans was filled with freedom. The Europeans had a completely different Idea of the meaning of freedom. In the Europeans freedom it meant owner ship of property. The Europeans envisioned structural governments with laws were the correct way to life. Another meaning of freedom to the Europeans was not the freedom of religion as we know today, which is to practice the religion that you desire. Their interpretation was that freedom also meant turning to Christianity, the religion most Europeans practiced and believed was the one true religion. They saw it as freedom in ridding sins and leading a wholesome life under god.