Do you think what is western what is eastern? - Historum

**Efendi** · October 27th, 2009, 12:41 PM

who is west who is east.

I know it is broad question, you can give simple ideas.impressions..etc. which is enough for me.

**Patito de Hule** · October 27th, 2009, 03:38 PM

Europe is Western (except Istanbul).
Asia is Eastern (Except Russia east of the Urals)
Western Hemisphere is Western.
Antartica is southern (nothing there but penguins anyway).
Australia/NZ is Western
Africa an Pacific Islands are non-existant.

**Toltec** · October 27th, 2009, 03:50 PM

Europe is eastern except for UK, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland.

**plutoboyz** · October 27th, 2009, 04:01 PM

western is country that more influenced by european culture. eastern is country that more influenced by asian culture.

**Lucius** · October 27th, 2009, 06:14 PM

Obviously, the West/East thing is Euro-centric.

The two main characteristics of culture are language and religion. The bulk of European languages are Indo-European. The most used languages in Asia differ from one another in a greater degree than those of Europe. Most of the European religions are Christian. The most popular religions in Asia differ from one another in a greater degree than the different branches of Christianity. This is not to mention that Europe is a peninsula sticking off from the Asian land-mass.

However, I think the term westernization can also be understood to mean the spread of liberal democracy and socialism. With all respect to, well, let's say, the Iroquois Confederation, or to whomever, the only reason these sensibilities have a chance of "going global" is that they originated with the Europeans.

Case in point - I think 50% of the human race(the fairer sex) is very much in favor of "westernization."

I think modernity would be a better word for it.

**Pedro** · October 27th, 2009, 06:30 PM

Westernization can also be understood as 'keeping upset with the Joneses'.

pinguin · October 27th, 2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucius

...However, I think the term westernization can also be understood to mean the spread of liberal democracy and socialism. With all respect to, well, let's say, the Iroquois Confederation, or to whomever, the only reason these sensibilities have a chance of "going global" is that they originated with the Europeans.
.

With all due respect, the Iroquois Confederation has importance to the U.S. because it was an example of FEDERALISM, that worked, and that certainly inspired the founders of the U.S.

pinguin · October 27th, 2009, 06:49 PM

My opinion. The term Western should be synonimous of European civilization only. Not the U.S., Australia or Latin America aren't really Western, but derivated societies.

What is typically western?

Indoeuropean languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Rusian, etc.)

Latin/Greek scripts

Christian religion. Reading the Bible.

Greek classics in science, phylosophy, arts and literature.

Melodic, polyphonic music, mathematical scales (in opposition to drumming)

Using fork and knives to eat

Eating cow but no dogs

Democracy, parlamentarism

Linear concept of history

And thousand of small details more.

**Lucius** · October 27th, 2009, 07:42 PM

Liberté, égalité, fraternité.

**Efendi** · October 28th, 2009, 12:26 AM

Arent Albanians and Bosnians who are located in the centre of the continent, European?

Or you mean they are European but not western?

What about Hungarians and Fins they don't speak Indo European language.