The term "Indian" was incorrectly used to refer to Native Americans because when Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492, he mistakenly believed he had reached the Indian subcontinent. He called the indigenous peoples he encountered "Indians" based on this misconception, and the name stuck. However, it is worth noting that many indigenous peoples prefer to be referred to by their specific tribal or cultural group names rather than the general term "Indian."
Native Americans were mistakenly called "Indians" by Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer. When Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492, he believed he had reached India, hence referring to the indigenous peoples he encountered as "Indians." This misnomer became widespread and persisted over time, even though it was based on a geographical mistake. Today, the term "Native Americans" or "indigenous peoples" is more commonly used to refer to the various ethnic groups indigenous to the Americas.
