When Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492, he encountered indigenous peoples of the islands he visited, such as the Taino in the Caribbean. Columbus referred to these natives as "Indians," a term he used because he mistakenly believed he had reached the outskirts of India (the Indies) during his voyage. This misnomer was rooted in European exploration and trade interests, as the term "Indies" had been used to refer to South and East Asia. Columbus's use of the term "Indians" persisted even though it was inaccurate, and it has been used historically in reference to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. This mislabeling contributed to a long history of misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Native American cultures.
What did Columbus call the natives he met and why?
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