Why were the indiginous people of North america called Indians?
When Columbus landed on the island of San Salvador in 1492 he was welcomed by a brown-skinned people whose physical appearance confirmed him in his opinion that he had at last reached India, and whom, therefore, he called Indios, Indians, a name which, however mistaken in its first application continued to hold its own, and has long since won general acceptance. The entire purpose of the westward exploration by Columbus, et al, was a search for a route to the India for trade and riches…
