The direction refers to the direction that one must travel FROM Europe to arrive. You must go west to the West Indies and east to the East Indies.
Before Columbus' discovery he was trying to find a route to India and/or the East Indies. At the time of his discovery trade for Far East items like silk and spices involved several steps from source to destination making the products very expensive and very slow to obtain. Had Columbus been successful the Europeans could have gone directly to the source, purchased precisely what they wanted, without a markup for any intermediary, and returned home with product in a relatively short period of time. A direct ocean route around Africa to the East indies was found by Vasco de Gama for the Portuguese in 1498.
No, it is not located in India. it is actually located south-east of the gulf of Mexico and northern America, east of central America and north of south America - the Caribbean. The islands are called the 'West Indies' because the initial explorers were trying to reach India by a new route going West round the Globe from Europe. When they came across the Caribbean Islands they though they must be near India and called them the West Indies, not realising the size of Earth and the fact that there was another continent and an ocean in the way.
The islands of the Caribbean (West Indies, or Antilles) are between North and South America, but are often classified as being North America, as is Central America. These include Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and numerous smaller islands.
During the Age of Exploration, China, India, and the Spice Islands were often referred to as the "East Indies" or "Spice Islands," highlighting their significance in the global trade of spices, silk, and other valuable goods. European explorers sought new trade routes to these regions to access their rich resources, which were highly coveted in Europe. This pursuit led to the establishment of trade networks and colonial empires, fundamentally reshaping global commerce and cultural exchange.
King John of England mistakenly believed that the Caribbean islands were part of the mythical island of "Antillia," often referred to as the "Isle of Seven Cities." This legend suggested that Antillia was a large island located in the Atlantic Ocean, which many European explorers sought after during the Age of Discovery. The confusion arose from the limited geographical knowledge of the time and the blending of myths with actual discoveries.
Most often peoples from the Caribbean are referred to by their country within the Caribbean or their ethnic group, for example Dominican or Carib, respectively. If you must refer to a person by the entire Caribbean region then I would use 'Caribbean people(s)'.
The island in the Caribbean region are often referd to as the West Indies because 'West Indies' is the collective name of these islands.
The island in the Caribbean region are often referd to as the West Indies because 'West Indies' is the collective name of these islands.
The island in the Caribbean region are often referd to as the West Indies because 'West Indies' is the collective name of these islands.
Yes, the Caribbean islands in the Gulf of Mexico are collectively referred to as the West Indies. This term historically encompasses the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas, distinguishing these islands from those in the eastern Pacific. The name originated from early European explorers who mistakenly believed they had reached the Indies in Asia. Today, the West Indies is often associated with the Caribbean region as a whole.
because it feels like it!
because they're in the Indian ocean.
Columbus explored the ares for several months, convinced he had found the East Indies, the islands off the coast of Asia.When finding it was not the east indies he named it the west indies.
No, it is not located in India. it is actually located south-east of the gulf of Mexico and northern America, east of central America and north of south America - the Caribbean. The islands are called the 'West Indies' because the initial explorers were trying to reach India by a new route going West round the Globe from Europe. When they came across the Caribbean Islands they though they must be near India and called them the West Indies, not realising the size of Earth and the fact that there was another continent and an ocean in the way.
Christopher Columbus believed that the lands he reached were the West Indies, in Southern Asia, although it was actually the Carribean Islands, south of North America.
The sister islands in the Caribbean typically refer to the islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis. These two islands are located in the West Indies and are known for their beautiful landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture. They are often considered one entity due to their close proximity and shared governance.
The islands of the Caribbean (West Indies, or Antilles) are between North and South America, but are often classified as being North America, as is Central America. These include Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and numerous smaller islands.
Very often the Caribbean Sea is referred to as the Gulf of Mexico.