American Indian
At a glance:
- Series: American Indians Ready Reference
- Categories: Social Science
- Subcategories: Native Americans, American Indians
- Curriculum: American Indian History
- Geographical Location: West Indies, North America, South America
- Date: Colonial times-present
Article abstract: An “American Indian” is broadly defined as a member of any of the aboriginal peoples of North, Central, or South America and the West Indies. Peoples covered under this definition are also generally considered part of a group once widely referred to by anthropologists as “Mongoloid” in reference to certain physical characteristics and facial features.
The term “American Indian” is an obvious misnomer on two counts: First, the word “American” refers to explorer Amerigo Vespucci, for whom the Americas were named by European...
[The entire page is 361 words long]
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