We know that people from India are called Indians, so how did this come about? Just curious...
2006-11-03 11:53:48 · 18 answers · asked by Gorgeous George 3 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
the same way we got o be called black, ***** etc.
whitefolks made it up
2006-11-03 11:54:41 · answer #1 · answered by Xae 6 · 0⤊ 7⤋
Columbus thought he was in India when he landed on Hispaniola (present day Dominion Republic). The Native Americans were thought to be East Indians.
2006-11-03 19:57:03 · answer #2 · answered by Laughing Libra 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as we all know America was discovered by Columbus who actually wanted to go to India. When he got land under his foot he saw the people there and thought he came to India. the people then were called Indians.
2006-11-03 20:04:02 · answer #3 · answered by dilara c 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can blame ole Chris Columbus and the rest of the Europeans who first discovered the new world.
At the time, everyone was looking for a trade route to get to India which was rich in spices, gems and other goods. Chris wanted to go West instead of East like the Portugese.
So when he hit the "New World", he naturally thought he was in Asia, so he called everyone there "Indians"
2006-11-03 19:56:31 · answer #4 · answered by Gina S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christopher Columbus was lost. Seriously. He thought he was in India. So he called the people he met Indians.
2006-11-03 19:56:24 · answer #5 · answered by Lisa A 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When C Columbus sailed west, he was sailing for India. They did not know about the American continents then, so he thought they had landed in India, and so called them Indians.
2006-11-03 20:04:05 · answer #6 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When Columbus first discovered America he was looking for a way to India. He thought he had made that discovery not knowing that he was on a different continent. The name stuck with the natives.
2006-11-03 19:56:59 · answer #7 · answered by mad_mav70 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I've read, it was Christopher Colombus. He was looking for India and instead landed in what are some islands in the Bahamas. He thought he'd landed in India and named the people Indians.
2006-11-03 20:54:52 · answer #8 · answered by MadforMAC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Columbus screwed up and thought he landed in the West Indies. The natives were referred to as "Indians."
2006-11-03 20:21:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well there is a few explanations.
First is the whole columbus thing that a few people have posted.
Second, was the jesuit missonarys refered to the 'natives in some of their writings to the king of england as "in deus" meaning close to god or in god, therefore leading us to be called indians.
third is we crossed the land bridge between siria and alaska meaning we migrated somewhere from siria or india, however this fact was later disputed due to archological finds predating this concept.
2006-11-06 21:35:49 · answer #10 · answered by Miss J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
christopher columbus was drunk and lost, did not know where he was. His first impression was, he is in India. That is why he called the people of america indian.
2006-11-03 20:16:47 · answer #11 · answered by Leo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋