Eastern world
Umbrella term for diverse Eastern cultures and civilizations.
The Eastern world, also known as the East or historically the Orient, is an umbrella term for various cultures, social structures, nations, and philosophical systems, varying depending on context. It most often includes Asia, the Mediterranean region, and the Arab world, particularly in historical (pre-modern) contexts and in modern times within the framework of Orientalism. The term originally had a literal geographic meaning, referring to the eastern part of the Old World, contrasting the cultures and civilizations of Asia with those of Western Europe.
- field
- Cultural and historical geography
- known_for
- Umbrella term for Asian, Mediterranean, and Arab cultures; counterpart to the Western world
- concept_origin
- European cultural history; distinction between Christian Europe and cultures to the East
- associated_regions
- Asia, Mediterranean region, Arab world, Central Asia
- related_concept
- Orientalism
Lore & Background
The Eastern world is a broad and internally diverse concept, encompassing many different countries, ethnic groups, and cultures that do not share a single common heritage. The term originally referred literally to the eastern part of the Old World, but conceptually the boundary between East and West is more cultural and historical than geographical. For example, Australia and New Zealand are typically grouped with the Western world despite being geographically closer to the East, while Central Asian nations of the former Soviet Union are grouped in the East.
Reader's Guide
The Eastern world is significant as a historical and cultural construct that has shaped global perceptions of identity and difference. The division between East and West, formerly called Orient and Occident, is a product of European cultural history, rooted in the distinction between Christian Europe and cultures beyond it to the East. With European colonization of the Americas, this dichotomy became global. The concept of an Eastern, 'Indian' (Indies), or 'Oriental' sphere was emphasized by ideas of racial, religious, and cultural differences, articulated by Westerners in the scholarly tradition known as Orientalism. This tradition presents a Western conception of a unified Eastern world not limited to any specific region but encompassing all of Asia together. The term remains in use today, though its boundaries are debated and context-dependent.
Did You Know?
- The Eastern world most often includes Asia, the Mediterranean region, and the Arab world.
- The term originally had a literal geographic meaning, referring to the eastern part of the Old World.
- Australia and New Zealand are typically grouped with the Western world despite being geographically closer to the Eastern world.
- The division between East and West is a product of European cultural history and the distinction between Christian Europe and cultures to the East.
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