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Why did Columbus call the people he met in America "Indians"?

User Zorida
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He thought that he reached India, he had no idea that he found new land. The reason why he started his journey was to find a new way to India by sailing west all the time.
User Vintesh
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Answer:

The natives of America, also called Native Americans, Native Americans, Native Americans, or in some American Indian countries, in a derogatory manner, are the original inhabitants of America. Under the error of Christopher Columbus, who believed they were in India, the natives were called Indians.

In most European languages, the word Indian is the same for those born in India and for Native American peoples. During the twentieth century, calling Native Americans Indians became something politically incorrect and thus a series of names emerged that were accepted and used until today: Indo-American, indigenous, Native American, Native American.

User Victor Stafusa
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