# A world without Indian contributions **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 22, 2011, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309 "2011-04-22T01:03:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/61 "2011-04-23T01:47:52Z")
There’s a TOPIC?! Oh yeah… Cannondale is overpriced for what you get. No one needs more than 10 gears if that. Lycra pants on men are a crime against humanity. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/62 "2011-04-23T02:07:36Z")
The topic is the American Indian contributions to the world. If you are interested, you can start with these books. You can buy them by some dozens of bucks… Or just ask me anything about the topic, for free. [http://www.manataka.org/images/Indian%20Givers%20864.jpg](http://www.manataka.org/images/Indian%20Givers%20864.jpg) [http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HW45254FL._SL500\_AA300_.jpg](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HW45254FL._SL500_AA300_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/63 "2011-04-23T02:36:34Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > No. [Rubber](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gutta-percha)! > > Plant latexes and their use are not uniquely American discoveries. Neither is whiskey but I have it on good authority that the Aztecs landed on the moon first. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/64 "2011-04-23T02:42:44Z")
That’s the legend of the Moon Rabbit. However, obviously you haven’t heared about Nezahualcoyotl and his engineering achievements. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/65 "2011-04-23T03:41:11Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > That’s the legend of the Moon Rabbit. > However, obviously you haven’t heared about Nezahualcoyotl and his engineering achievements. Except he wasn’t Aztec and yes I’ve heard of him. What exactly qualifies as “Indian” in this thread and why the sudden need to edumacate us? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/66 "2011-04-23T03:54:33Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > why the sudden need to edumacate us? It’s not sudden - it’s his schtick. He hides it under the guise of “just asking questions.” ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/67 "2011-04-23T03:56:33Z")
What is an “Indian”? Well, Indian was a term invented by that ignorant Catalan pirate called Cristobal Colon… (perhaps you know about him with the latiniced name “Columbus”). As you know, that mercenary become crazy reading Marco Polo, and when he attempt his trip, he believed had reached India but has only reached the Caribbean, so he called Indian to the people there, and by extension, to all the people of the Western Hemisphere. I was born in the Western Hemisphere, therefore I have a deep interest in the peoples of this part of the world, particularly to the people that has lived here from ages. I don’t feel the need to educate you. I know some people can’t be educated against theirs will. I just opened a thread about this topic, and if you aren’t interested you can leave it. It is yours choice. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/68 "2011-04-23T12:02:44Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > What is an “Indian”? Well, Indian was a term invented by that ignorant Catalan pirate called Cristobal Colon… (perhaps you know about him with the latiniced name “Columbus”). I don’t feel the need to educate you. I know some people can’t be educated against theirs will. Colombus was from Genoa. Please, do tell me that at least that amount of knowledge has reached the part of Chile where you live. Ironic that you felt the need to add ignorant to the sentence. > [@pinguin](#): > > I just opened a thread about this topic, and if you aren’t interested you can leave it. It is yours choice. As much as you’d like to act like this is your private blog, you are no mod here. If your arguments are too feeble to support your claims, you might be the one in want of a leave. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/69 "2011-04-23T12:31:02Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > If you are interested, you can start with these books. You can buy them by some dozens of bucks… Or just ask me anything about the topic, for free. And you’ll get back to us in a month. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/70 "2011-04-23T14:17:25Z")
> [@Capitaine\_Zombie](#): > > Colombus was from Genoa. . Columbus may have been from Genoa, But Cristobal Colon was Catalan. Show me a single letter of Colon written in Italian or an Italian dialect. Nope, the guy spoke and wrote in Spanish languages (Castillian, Catalan), even in his letters to Italy! As far as the research goes, he was probably a Catalan pirate. And yes, there was a Columbus family in Genoa, but the link with the Colon doesn’t exist. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/71 "2011-04-23T15:33:33Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > Columbus may have been from Genoa, > But Cristobal Colon was Catalan. > > Show me a single letter of Colon written in Italian or an Italian dialect. > Nope, the guy spoke and wrote in Spanish languages (Castillian, Catalan), even in his letters to Italy! As far as the research goes, he was probably a Catalan pirate. > > And yes, there was a Columbus family in Genoa, but the link with the Colon doesn’t exist. :rolleyes: Here you go genius. > **[Christopher Columbus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Columbus)** > > Christopher Columbus\[b\] (/kəˈlʌmbəs/; between 25 August and 31 October 1451 – 20 May 1506) was an Italian\[c\] explorer and navigator from the Republic of Genoa who completed four Spanish-based voyages across the Atlantic Ocean sponsored by the Catholic Monarchs, opening the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas. His expeditions were the first known European contact with the Caribbean and Central and South America. > The name Christopher Columbus is the ang... And if he wasnt from Genoa, why the fuck would he have written letters to Italy? And just for your information, Christoph Kolumbus wasnt german nor was Kristof Kolomb Turkish… ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/72 "2011-04-23T15:42:46Z")
Don’t relay on Wiki. Those ideas are from the 60s: Please study better sources [http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/estudio/muestra/catalan/era/lengua/materna/Colon/elpepucul/20091015elpepucul\_6/Tes](http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/estudio/muestra/catalan/era/lengua/materna/Colon/elpepucul/20091015elpepucul_6/Tes) [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/6326698/Christopher-Columbus-writings-prove-he-was-Spanish-claims-study.html](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/6326698/Christopher-Columbus-writings-prove-he-was-Spanish-claims-study.html) ---
**Author:** ![Nadir](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nadir/32/7302_2.png) [@Nadir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nadir)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/73 "2011-04-23T16:02:49Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > Don’t relay on Wiki. No shyt. > [@FinnAgain](#): > > Yeah, those poor fools off drinking their single malt… they should obviously just get a bottle of jack and send the single malt to me. For, ya know, disposal. I’ll take the JD single barrel over a comparably priced scotch any day. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/74 "2011-04-23T17:32:49Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > And yes, there was a Columbus family in Genoa, but the link with the Colon doesn’t exist. :rolleyes: God they must have been constipated. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/75 "2011-04-23T17:45:33Z")
> [@sh1bu1](#): > > God they must have been constipated. Wow. Golf clap on this, I wished I had come up with that one. ---
**Author:** ![pinguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@pinguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinguin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/76 "2011-04-23T17:48:36Z")
Nah. Everyone who talks Spanish knows the ridiculous last name of the Admiral Columbus. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/77 "2011-04-23T21:25:37Z")
[The Wigwam Motel](http://www.regulus-missile.com/WigwamMotel.jpg) would probably be a used car lot . . . for wooden cars. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/78 "2011-04-23T21:34:11Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > What is an “Indian”? Well, Indian was a term invented by that ignorant Catalan pirate called Cristobal Colon… (perhaps you know about him with the latiniced name “Columbus”). I knew him best as Cassius Clay. He invented microwave dinners and the hypodermic needle. Unfortunately it was centuries before Lizzie Borden invented the microwave and George Washington Carver invented peanut insulin, so few people realized his brilliance. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/79 "2011-04-23T21:48:01Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I knew him best as Cassius Clay. He invented microwave dinners and the hypodermic needle. Unfortunately it was centuries before Lizzie Borden invented the microwave and George Washington Carver invented peanut insulin, so few people realized his brilliance. The real tragic irony is that, despite being the inventor of the TV dinner, he was not allowed to use the “whites only” microwave, and so perished of hunger. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309/80 "2011-04-23T21:58:59Z")
> [@pinguin](#): > > OK. Now that we see the case of rubber, just imagine a day without eating anything remotely related to plants cultivated and selected during centuries by Natives of the Americas. here’s the thing- you’re falling into the trap of assuming that if the person/people who discovered something hadn’t actually done so, then it would never have been discovered at all. And that’s BS, sorry. _Someone_ would have discovered/invented it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-world-without-indian-contributions/579309.md?page=5)