Which Indians were the dominant groups when Columbus discovered the New World?

• A. The Mayas and the Aztecs
• B. The Arawaks and the Caribs
• C. The Sioux and the Iroquois
• D. The Incas and the Chibchas

Answer: (B)

When Columbus first reached the New World, the major Indigenous groups in the islands he encountered were the Arawak-speaking Taíno in the Bahamas and Greater Antilles, with Carib peoples inhabiting parts of the Lesser Antilles. These groups were the most widespread and culturally influential in that region at the time, shaping early contact, trade, and resistance. The other options refer to civilizations located in different regions: Mayas and Aztecs in Central America and central Mexico; Sioux and Iroquois in North America far to the north; and Incas and Chibchas in the Andean areas of South America. So the Arawaks and Caribs best fit the situation Columbus encountered in the Caribbean.