# Columbus **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 31, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus/314973 "2005-07-31T04:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus/314973/1 "2005-07-31T04:29:18Z")
We;ve all heard the story in elementary school of how Columbus was looking for India when he bumped into North America. He supposedly thought he had reached India so he called the natives “Indians”. This story seems flawed for a couple of reasons. India did not exist as a country in the late 1400’s. Of course, the landmass was there, but it certainly wasn`t called “India”. Columbus was Italian so he might have called the natives “in dios” (with God) because of they way he saw them live ‘in harmony’ with nature. Was anyone else taught this story in school? ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus/314973/2 "2005-07-31T04:47:52Z")
It [wasn’t](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgenteindios.html)? What was it called then? ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus/314973/3 "2005-07-31T19:18:16Z")
> [@siegel2@cox.net](#): > > This story seems flawed for a couple of reasons. India did not exist as a country in the late 1400’s. Of course, the landmass was there, but it certainly wasn`t called “India”. Columbus was Italian so he might have called the natives “in dios” (with God) because of they way he saw them live ‘in harmony’ with nature. > > Was anyone else taught this story in school? There’s actually a Staff Report about this “in dios” business: [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgenteindios.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mgenteindios.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus/314973/4 "2005-07-31T19:54:23Z")
> [@siegel2@cox.net](#): > > We;ve all heard the story in elementary school of how Columbus was looking for India **when he bumped into North America**. Actually he didn’t reach North America. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/columbus/314973/5 "2005-07-31T23:49:12Z")
> [@siegel2@cox.net](#): > > Was anyone else taught this story in school? I certainly hope not (though it’s a rather forlorn hope), since as my Staff Report indicates, it is a complete fabrication and lie. > [@](#): > > This story seems flawed for a couple of reasons. India did not exist as a country in the late 1400’s. Of course, the landmass was there, but it certainly wasn`t called “India”. It most certainly was. The region had been known as “India” or variants thereof since the time of Alexander the Great. > [@](#): > > Columbus was Italian so he might have called the natives “in dios” (with God) because of they way he saw them live ‘in harmony’ with nature. Nope. It is absolutely clear from his letter announcing the discovery that Columbus called them Indians because he though he was in the Indies. There is nowhere in the letter of any phrase resembling “in dios” (actually a mix-up of Italian and Spanish), and since news of Columbus’ discovery was spread through Europe in Latin rather than Spanish or Italian the whole idea makes no sense whatsoever. Y’know, if people are going to make stuff like this up they might try to be a little more plausible about it.