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Christopher Columbus believed that he had sailed all the way to the East Indies, probably somewhere near the islands we now call Malaysia. He didn't realize that he had only sailed less than halfway to Asia.

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Kathryn Lebsack

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2y ago
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9y ago

Christopher Columbus believed that he had sailed all the way to the East Indies, probably somewhere near the islands we now call Malaysia. He didn't realize that he had only sailed less than halfway to Asia.

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12y ago

because he had not reached the east Indians

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Q: Why did Columbus refer to the people he encountered as Indians?
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When Columbus reached land what did he refer to the people he encountered as Indians?

the land is different and he is in awe of it. The most enchanting sight he ever witnessed.


Who was the native people that Columbus met in hispanola?

Columbus was trying to get to India when he ran into North America. He thought that he had arrived in India, so he referred to the Native Americans as Indians. AND, we still refer to them as such.


Were did the Indians come from?

The people from India are Indians, yes, but the word "Indians" is also used (inappropriately) to refer to Native Americans.


What was the original purpose of Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492?

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. The purpose of his first voyage was find a shorter route to Asia, particularly India. Instead of finding Asia, he found the New World.


Why were the native people in American colonies called Indians?

Columbus was a Spanish explorer whose intention was to find a route to India by going west because the Ottoman Empire was heavily guarding the Eastern side. When Columbus reached land, he was in what we call the West Indies but assumed he was in India so he erroneously referred to them as Indian or in his language (Spanish) : Los Indios Despite this some people still continue to refer to Native Americans as "Indians" even though it is obvious to us that Indians are really from the other part of the world and that Native Americans are not related to them at all. Most people use the term "Native American" because it is politically correct as opposed to "Indian" which is actually a mistake but "Indian" is still widely used erroneously by both Americans and non-American

Related questions

When Columbus reached land what did he refer to the people he encountered as Indians?

the land is different and he is in awe of it. The most enchanting sight he ever witnessed.


Why did Columbus refer to the people he met on his 1492 journey as Indians?

he thought he was in Inda.


Why did Columbus refer to the people he met on his1492 journey as Indians?

He was a mentally sick


Who were the first to refer to the native American as Indians?

Christopher Columbus was actually the frst to refer to them as Indians because he believed that he was in India .


Who was the native people that Columbus met in hispanola?

Columbus was trying to get to India when he ran into North America. He thought that he had arrived in India, so he referred to the Native Americans as Indians. AND, we still refer to them as such.


Why did Columbus refer to the Arawak's as Indians?

Upon reaching what is now North America, Christopher Columbus, whose original goal was to sail around the world to India, thought that he had accomplished his goal. When he discovered that there were natives in the New World, he mistakenly called them Indians, believing that they were natives of India.


Why did Columbus refer to people he met on his 1492 journey as ''Indians''?

Because, the whole reason he was making the journey, was to find another trade route to India besides having to bring goods back and forth on land. Before Columbus's trip, Europe didnt know that north and south america existed. When Columbus found land, he thought it was india, and that native americans were indians.


What group of people does the word Indians refer to in south America?

The native people


Were did the Indians come from?

The people from India are Indians, yes, but the word "Indians" is also used (inappropriately) to refer to Native Americans.


Who were the woodfin Indians?

The Woodfin Indians might refer to the tribe of Native American people who lived in the Woodfin area of North Carolina. This term might also refer to paintings of Native Americans from that area.


What was the original purpose of Christopher Columbus' voyage in 1492?

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator. The purpose of his first voyage was find a shorter route to Asia, particularly India. Instead of finding Asia, he found the New World.


What are the people from India called?

Indians Or people from India As Indian can refer to nationals of India, or an American Indian, or some other native/aboriginal people, the words Indian or Indians are ambiguous. When using the word Indians it is always good to make it clear what type of Indians are being referred to. It is important to note that the term 'Indian' is considered to be an offensive stereotype by some, but is used also as a term of pride and respect by others.