why the native Americans were call Indians,while they don't look anything like the native to India.?

Question

even though i get answers for this question,i still think they shouldnt be called Indians

Answer 1

Because Colombus was sailing westward to find a new a route to India. When he landed in North America he thought he was India, so therefore he called the natives Indians.

Answer 2

Columbus and other European exploreres were sailing westward in search of an easier trade route with India. When they arrive in the Americas they called the natives there "indians".

Ofcourse, calling them "native american" may not be that correct of a term either. Its been said Europeans were on the North american continent long before the "natives" were. Read up on the Kennewick Man and Ice Age Columbus documentary. And for South America, the Australoid man was there long before the natives reach there. They were probably all killed off when the amerindians came...

Answer 3

Columbus thought that he had found an alternate route to the East Indies. He had even brought a few of the natives back to Spain as evidence of his achievement. Due to his misunderstanding, Columbus died without being recognized as the founder of the Americas at that time. Finally, in 1937 President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Columbus Day a national holiday. Although his unfortunate assumption has cost him his credibility in many ways, Columbus is now rightfully acknowledged for what he indeed discovered and not what he thought he had discovered in the beginning.

Answer 4

Huh - - - I've rolled around with Indians from India and Indians from North & South America and though there was diversity there were many similarities; brown skin, almond eyes, glossy blue-black hair - - - -

That said - - - in the mistaken belief that he had crossed an Ocean and landed in the region of South East Asia Christopher Columbus made claim to having found the passage to India and he dubbed the region The Indies. Columbus was too stubborn to admit he hadn't a clue where he was, men rarely stop and ask for directions, and Queen Isabella of Spain knew enough not to argue, Heck call it the Indies just as long as Spain can claim it.

Peace...

PS Try sleeping with a dozen of each variety of Indian and you'll find lots of similarities.

Answer 5

When the first explorers landed in the New World they thought they had reached India, therefore they called the native people Indians

Answer 6

I beleive it was because the explorer (not sure which one) was trying to get to India and thought he had arrived in India after seeing dark skinned First Nations people. (we don't call them Indians in Canada anymore most prefer to be called either first nations or aboriginal)

Interestingly, in the UK - "west Indians" are people from the caribbean countries and "east Indians" are people from India. In Turkey, alot of people refer to first nations people of north america as "red skins".

Answer 7

Contrary to all the above answers, I believe that a historical perspective is needed here. In Columbus's day, China as we know is was called "Cathay" by Europeans, and India as we know it was called "Hindustan" by those same Europeans. When Columbus (AKA Cristobal Colon) met up with the aboriginals, he called them "Indios" in Portuguese, "god-like". Perhaps he was wondering about their virtual nakedness and their lack of a sense of modesty. And don't forget their their complete trust in the bearded Europeans who came to murder them and take their homelands.

Answer 8

Because when Colombus and the early explorers landed in America, they were searching for a new route to India, and thought they found it.

The name just stuck after the mistake was recognized...

Answer 9

COLUMBUS THOUGHT HE HAD REACHED INDIA , THUS INDIANS. HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT INDIANS LOOKED LIKE , OR A PLACE CALLED 'AMERICA' ; SO WHAT DO YOU THINK HE SHOULD HAVE CALLED THEM ? WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IN HIS PLACE ?

Answer 10

They shouldn't. When a name like that has stuck for so long, however, it's difficult to stop using...