my friend and i know of two theories and were hoping to see if we could find any other theories or the actual truth. please answer!
2006-10-16 11:43:31 · 17 answers · asked by LaMorenaForbiden™ 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Chistopher Columbus was originally going to India. When he landed in the Caribbean, he noticed that the people there looked Indian. So he called them Indians.
2006-10-16 11:46:00 · answer #1 · answered by the_post2001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Columbus was looking for the East Indies to open up trade from there to Europe. When he landed in Hispaniola he thought that he had reached the "Indies." So he called the people Indians.
I think it was several years before Europeans figured out that they had discovered a whole new continent. I'll accept correction if it wasn't Columbus, could have been any of the first explorers, but you get the point.
I would be powerful interested in what OTHER theory you give credence to? This is the only one I have ever heard.
2006-10-16 18:47:13 · answer #2 · answered by Squid Vicious 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Native Americans Indians were called the Indians because of Columbus's belief that he had landed in India when he really had arrived in the Caribbean. Although Columbus's mistake was soon realized the name stuck and for centuries the native people of the Americas were collectively called Indians. (American Indians).
2006-10-16 18:54:45 · answer #3 · answered by Kassie 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because when Columbus landed in North America, he mistakenly thought he had reached India (he was seeking a shortcut to the Spice route originally). Hence the misnomer "Indians."
2006-10-16 18:46:11 · answer #4 · answered by aas_627 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because he thought we were Indians. Indians from India that is. We're dark like East Indians, well at least in the southwest where there's still lots of full bloods.
2006-10-17 00:34:54 · answer #5 · answered by Ron D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christopher Columbus thought he landed in "the Indies", so he called the natives here "Indians".
2006-10-16 18:46:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When Christopher Columbus discovered America, he thought it was India, which was his destination. He wanted to go to India to get spices. So when he saw the Native Americans, he thought they were "India"ns
2006-10-16 20:06:35 · answer #7 · answered by Allison T 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I learned, Columbus believed he had landed in the West Indies, therefore naming the inhabitants "Indians."
2006-10-16 18:45:24 · answer #8 · answered by Sinner & Saint 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
some people believe that columbus wasnt really callingthem indians but indios (meaning indigenious in spanish)-so the word really doesnt bother me...even if it did mean an indian from india i still wouldnt mind...i had a lot of great convos with people from india because of this
2006-10-16 18:48:40 · answer #9 · answered by ellie_2121 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because Christopher Columbus was a racist dummy and he was supposed to be going to the West Indies. When he got here and saw the brown skinned people he wrote home that they were "Stupid and ill be easily enslaved" and then he declared them to be Indians.
2006-10-16 18:48:57 · answer #10 · answered by NolaD 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋