Apatheism and not giving a shit

We have all heard of tribes that lived on without any contact from the modern world. Some people from the modern world have ventured into theirs.

I am wondering if anyone here has any knowledge on that topic. Did they think they were the only ones that existed? Did they think that others beyond them existed and if so why? When they made contact with modern man did they think of them as a higher intelligent people or as gods or just equals? Were gods even a part of their thinking and what was it based on?

I see this as being relevant in understanding humans, the thought process, and the topic at hand.