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Columbus referred to the lands he encountered during his voyages as the "Indies" because he believed he had reached the outskirts of Asia, specifically the islands of the East Indies. This term included parts of the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas, Cuba, and Hispaniola, which he mistakenly thought were part of the Asian continent. His misidentification stemmed from his goal of finding a westward route to Asia for trade. Ultimately, Columbus's voyages opened up the Americas to European exploration and colonization.

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1w ago

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What are the names of west indies?

The west indies where named by christopher columbus however we today call it the carribean a series of islands in carribean sea


When did the Tudor explorers explore?

after Christopher Columbus found the West Indies.


Did Christopher Columbus discover the East Indies?

No. Columbus discovered the West Indies while trying to reach the East Indies, which the Europeans already knew existed.


Why are the Caribbean islands called the west lndies?

Columbus called these islands the Indiesbecause he thought he had finally reached Asia (and the East Indies). Spain, when Columbus' mistake was discovered, (pardon the pun) renamed them the West Indies, to distinguish them from the Spice Islands in the Pacific Ocean, (the East Indies) which we now call Indonesia.


Why Columbus design the plan enterprise of the indies?

The enterprise of the indies was Columbus's plan to sail West and end Up East


Why did Columbus call the natives Americans he met indies?

Columbus believed he had reached the Indies when he arrived in North America, so he called the people he found there "Indians". Though this term has been inaccurate since it was first used, the term "Native American" did not come into use until centuries later.


Who explored the west Indies?

Christopher Columbus. He thought he had reached India and named the island "Indies" and called its inhabitants, "Indians". Later Amerigo Vespucci proved that Colombus had actually found the New Lands, and not India. The island was then renamed "West Indies".


Who is the founder of the West Indies?

Columbus


Did Columbus land in the East Indies?

no


Why did Columbus call the islands he found West Indians?

it was so named because to him we looked like the east indies he was just idle


Who sailed for the Indies but found America?

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Who found west indies?

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