In 1720, the area now known as Los Angeles, California, was inhabited by the Tongva (or Gabrieleño) people, a Native American tribe who had lived in the region for thousands of years. The landscape was vastly different from the bustling metropolis it is today, characterized by rolling hills, fertile valleys, and a diverse ecosystem. Spanish explorers had only recently begun to make their presence felt in California, with the establishment of missions and settlements still a few decades away. The Tongva people thrived on the abundant natural resources, engaging in hunting, fishing, and gathering, and maintaining a rich cultural and spiritual life deeply connected to the land.