When Columbus landed, he believed he had reached which place, prompting him to call the natives 'Indians'?

When Columbus landed, he believed he had reached which place, prompting him to call the natives 'Indians'?

• A. Hawaii
• B. Japan
• C. Africa
• D. The Indies (Asia)

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that Columbus was convinced he had reached Asia, the East Indies, when he landed. He set out to find a western route to the spice-rich lands of Asia and, believing the Earth was smaller than it actually is, assumed that lands he reached by sailing west were part of Asia. So he called the people he met Indians, using the term associated with the Indies. In reality, he landed in the Caribbean in 1492, not in Hawaii, Japan, or Africa, but the name stuck because of his initial assumption about where he was.

The main idea here is that Columbus was convinced he had reached Asia, the East Indies, when he landed. He set out to find a western route to the spice-rich lands of Asia and, believing the Earth was smaller than it actually is, assumed that lands he reached by sailing west were part of Asia. So he called the people he met Indians, using the term associated with the Indies. In reality, he landed in the Caribbean in 1492, not in Hawaii, Japan, or Africa, but the name stuck because of his initial assumption about where he was.