Quote Originally Posted by Mr Blobby View Post
Thought Diamond had a chapter on Iceland too? [As in the example of a society which managed to adapt-survive, though 'skin of teeth' level on occasion].

There's been many, many instances in RL history where the locals have been somewhere between outraged to confused why these strangers did/didn't do X. History is littered with examples where an invading force either belittled, dismissed or outright ignored 'local advice' on the situation. The lucky commanders managed to get back alive for the court-martial.
The described collapses are the Greenland Norse, the ancient Pueblo, the Maya, Pitcairn, and Rapa Nui.