Early civilisations viewed the wilderness as a desolate, contemplative realm - home to predators, demons, hermits, and madmen. This image helped define civilisation by casting the wild as its “other.” Fear of the outside kept people within city walls and made any foray beyond feel like entering hostile ground. In turn, a strict split between “human” and “nature” took hold, discouraging individuals from living in accordance with their instinctive impulses.