Why Native Americans came to be known as American Indians? Where did the term *Indian* or *India* came from to describe the original, indegenous inhabitants of North America, when the original country of India is half a world away.
2007-02-01 08:45:05 · 9 answers · asked by Rit 1 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
When Columbus set out in 1492 he was on a quest to find a sea route to India - this was something of a new idea then, that the earth was round and therefore Columbus felt that if he travelled west he would eventually land up east. They sailed and finally landed on what is today called the West Indies - they saw land and were certain they had landed in India and therefore they called the people they found "Indians". This term has stuck through the centuries.
2007-02-02 16:44:19 · answer #1 · answered by RaviAsrani 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Indians from India have the same ancestors as Europeans. Native Americans have the same ancestors as eastern Asians. Of course if we go further back, everyone had the same ancestors. In fact Indians still have the same shapes as Europeans, just skin color is different due to weather probably. Last time I remember saw a movie, where a white dude put on something darkened his own skin, and banded his head, that was one Indian guy right there lolz... And I have seen a few really light skinned Indian girls, they were the same as white girls. On the other hand, I heard one native American said her sister was often mistaken as an Asian. In my opinion, generally native Americans have slightly larger cheek bones than Asians.
2016-03-29 00:22:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Columbus was drunk and lost thinking he was in India. And I said he was drunk not knowing the difference he use the term Indian to the native people of this land. Some stories might have changed to be in good order or view Columbus as being good person.
2007-02-03 09:45:44 · answer #3 · answered by Leo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The term Indian came from Columbus mistakenly thinking he had landed in India, therefore he called the Native Americans "Indians". Columbus was originally headed for India for trading, and then landed on the Americas. No one back then even knew the Americas existed. He went back to Europe to tell them of his find, and that's how the settlement of whites came to America.
I'm Choctaw, but being called Indian doesn't really bother me. It's not as bad as being called a prairie n.i.g.g.e.r, being that I'm in Oklahoma.
2007-02-01 09:15:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
because the butcher of the natives had arrived. gold for the king and souls for the church, and disease to the natives.. he just didn't know better. he was expecting to land in India as we all know. to bad he didn't land in India. hhmm come to think of it, nether where the spanards, very nice. like the stars in the night of the sky, they came.
2007-02-04 08:00:14 · answer #5 · answered by J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dumbass Christopher Columbus thought he was in India...
2007-02-05 00:34:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
its because old chris columbus
was stupid enough to think he was in india :)
2007-02-01 08:48:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
for want of a better name
2007-02-01 08:49:22 · answer #8 · answered by bwazimu 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
excellent answers so far, no need to repeat.
2007-02-01 09:27:43 · answer #9 · answered by selfish 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋