Western Europe: People speak romance languages and languages with Germanic roots. There are some exceptions, however. Lets get back to whether people in places such as Denmark (or anywhere else in Europe) enjoy more prosperity than their American counterparts. Then all the wars with the Turks and having to pretty much defeat the Nazis on their own. The division of the Roman Empire occurred partially as a result of economic differences. /r/History is a place for discussions about history. Then you have more capital to invest, which allows for . Western Europe is a region that includes many countries with diverse populations and cultures. But Im digressing. For that to happen, the countries have to be small and close to one another. Copyright 20102023, The Conversation Media Group Ltd. Daily new COVID-19 deaths per million inhabitants, eastern and western Europe. Why is Eastern Europe Poorer than Western Europe? | Thomas Sowell Make a list of at least seven of the largest cities in Eastern Europe. 5. No major city is near the Danube until Belgrade. England in 1800 was the richest country in the world, but the population lived in terrible poverty), Easter Europe always got the brunt of the migrant waves for almost all of recorded history, it didn't really begin to stabilize until the 900s so it had some catching up to do. The more they spent, the more chances they had to improve their military technology through trial and error while fighting wars. Love Sowell. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You'll still need to back up the peace with armed forces, but you won't actually fight all that much, and that's a much better outcome. - Quora Answer (1 of 107): If you had a world atlas in 1350, you'd see an apocalyptic wasteland where Western Europe is now. The Czech Republic acted very late, for example, imposing stricter measures at the end of October, even though cases and deaths had been soaring upwards during the month. What can we learn from the differences between Eastern and Western Europe? Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe refers to the eastern part of Europe. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Personally, I would much rather see expenditures devoted to infrastructure, or scientific research, or free preschool for everybodythings that would carry big economic benefitsbut in this world, I don't think you can stop doing military research or spending money on the military. Example: Some people do not consider Russia to be part of Europe. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Using GDP per capita as a measure of both economic output per person and of a countrys standard of living, America is winning quite handsomely. People in the former East Germany earn less than their counterparts in the former West. How is your theory different? 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA Unemployment is persistently higher in the former East Germany than in the former West. A head start in the first wave. Between these two regions, a myriad of differences can be viewed regarding the geographical location, culture, economy, etc. They have distinct cultures, languages, traditions, and cuisine. Has Eastern Europe always been poorer than Western Europe, and - Reddit Transport, accommodation and food tend to take a smaller bite out of your wallet, without compromising on history, culture, and experience. There is a very important ocean . Gunpowder was really important for conquering territory; it allows a small number of people to exercise a lot of influence. She has a Master's degree in History. These differences between eastern and western Europe will help you understand the magnitude of these differences better than before.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'questionscity_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-questionscity_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Western and Eastern Europe are on opposite sides of the continent. Adjusting for population size, both cases and . For most of the Middle Ages, the West was dirt poor, and the real money was in the east. But if these factors were at play in the first wave, they havent had the same effect in the second. Learn what is considered Eastern European, view a list of Eastern European countries and discover Eastern Europe religions. Even before the Holocaust, Jews faced terrible discrimination from the Christian-majority populations in which they lived. Why did Eastern Europe lag behind Western Europe in terms of economic development? [CC BY-SA 3.0] via Commons, Filed Under: Countries Tagged With: Eastern bloc, Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe characteristics, Eastern Europe definition, Soviet bloc, Western and Eastern Europe compare, Western Europe, Western Europe characteristics, Western Europe definition, Western vs Eastern Europe. Western Europe's Weakness Provoked Putin? What this Westerner refused to mention was all the wars and foreign occupations we went through all of our history (for Russia, a lot but not the entirety). Countries like Italy, S. Korea, Spain, Portugal and Greece would each rank below Mississippi as the poorest states in the country. I love that I get smarter everytime I listen to or read anything from Thomas Sowell. Romanian is a romance language. The impact of modernization and individualization can be clearly seen in the lifestyles of people. An important factor was also the raids of nomads from the steppes, ravaged Eastern Europe. Why is Eastern Europe less developed than Western Europe? Its a sign of American prosperity that we can afford to buy more from other nations than they can afford to buy from us. Muslims are a minority in most parts of Europe. I mean, as a Brit, I can see how our island had the best of it regarding no land border and access to the sea! They mostly had industry in the western part of the empire while the east was sparsely populated, large parts of the population were seen as unreliable (= suspected tsar sympathisers) and it was expected that the most eastern parts would get ruined by the next war with Russia so there wasn't much work to improve anything. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russia, which spans roughly 40% of the continent's landmass while accounting for approximately 15% of its total . crochet cardigan size chart on carolina thunderbirds salary; why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 And almost no major companies have their headquarters in East Germany. Max Weber Fellow in Social and Political Sciences, European University Institute. This is why Eastern Europe, in general, is poorer than countries in Western, Central, and Northern Europe. This may have produced scepticism about the severity of the pandemic. Fox News' Tucker Carlson asks what Attorney General Merrick Garland is doing in Ukraine, and wonders why no one cares about what happened to the Nordstream pipeline. Then you can bargain with your enemies to divvy up whatever you disagree about and you can have something like peace. what does cupid want to control; best tattoo shops in alabama; why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? While its per-capita productivity remains lower than that of West Germany, the former East Germany has made major gains since unification. - Definition & Laws, What Is Medicare? Required fields are marked *. One difference is that Eastern European countries were part of the Soviet Union for decades while Western European countries had more independence during this period. In the very successful countries, the leaders could impose very heavy taxes and spend huge sums on war. What are the Five Themes of Geography? It is related to Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. What explains this reluctance to reintroduce restrictions? Why is Eastern Europe more Western than Western Europe? In 1914, really only China, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire had escaped becoming European colonies. You can refer to the lesson, but try to recall as many from memory as you can. Long-run growth matters. Excellent point. (+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries. Eastern Europe - Wikipedia 1. Usually, when this question is asked, the response is that WWII and the Cold War ruined Eastern Europe, or that the agricultural and industrial revolutions began in Britain and not in Eastern Europe. Here, we take a look at why this has happened. Its fascinating how different these two worlds are, but it also shows us that we should not be afraid to embrace our unique qualities as individuals or communities if they lead to sustainable growth and innovationsomething both regions could stand for! Some argued that this was because of economics: that eastern European countries locked down early because they feared their economies would . All rights reserved. Therefore, do not misunderstand the information. Eastern Europe Lives And Breathes History. Create a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that lists and briefly describes the major geographical features of Eastern Europe. From the Reformation to the 20th century. Eastern Europe is generally poorer than Western Europe. There have been many periods where the Polish/Baltic/Ukraine/Belarus area was very wealthy. These two regions consist of a large number of countries that enrich the diversity of the two regions. Of course being in the soviet bloc wouldnt help either.Ive seen pictures of Prague and warsaw before the war and they seemed pretty prosperous. why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? New research shows that this goes back about 1,000 years. They are languages that descend from Latin, the language of the Romans. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. The highest point in Eastern Europe is Mount Elbrus, which stands at 5642 meters high. None of this suggests that policy in America is ideal (it isnt) or that European nations are failures (they still rank among the wealthiest places on the planet). It is difficult to point out the geographical division between the western and eastern regions of Europe although it is believed that the Caucasus Mountains, Ural River and mountain lay the boundary for Eastern Europe. One of the reasons for this, was that after WW II, parts of what were once considered to be Central and Western Europe, were taken over by a communist dictatorships aligned with the Soviet Union, and were classified as being part of Eastern Europe. Even in countries where governments reintroduced relatively strong restrictions in October, such as Slovenia and Lithuania, infections and deaths have remained high throughout November suggesting low compliance with the rules. When its easier to travel and grow food, its easier to sell the food at a greater. Western Europe is known for many things, but perhaps most famously it is the home of some of the worlds greatest tourist attractions. Most Slavic languages use the Cyrillic alphabet. Moldova is an independent nation that was once part of the Soviet Union. While each country in Western Europe has its unique landscapes, cultures, and traditions, all share a common history that can be traced back thousands of years ago when Rome was at its height. Eastern Europe is more industrialized than Western Europe while Western European countries tend to be wealthier than their eastern counterparts. Both regions have different economic structures and political systems. Coronavirus: why is eastern Europe's second wave so much worse than its Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms. Has Eastern Europe always been poorer than Western Europe, and - Quora On average, Eastern Europeans live longer than western Europeans because they smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less alcohol on average. Here is an Eastern Europe religion map that depicts the split of Christianity after the Great Schism of 1054. Countries in this region are typically located on the continent of Asia, except for Turkey which lies partly in both Asia and Europe. Additionally, some definitions include Greece as part of Eastern Europe, while others maintain that Greece is, in fact, part of Southern Europe. The Byzantium empire which included the Balkans, and Greece were the richest part of Europe prior to Ottoman conquest. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax This is probably the biggest reason I prefer Eastern Europe over Western Europe. Almost all the Muslims who live in Eastern Europe belong to the Sunni branch of Islam. Please, enable JavaScript and reload the page to enjoy our modern features. Most European countries (including Germany, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium) if they joined the US, would rank among the poorest one-third of US states on a per-capita GDP basis, and the UK, France, Japan and New Zealand would all rank among Americas very poorest states, below No. This has helped them recover from the damage done during their communist past. Austria-Hungary is partially to blame. There's a brain drain. Eastern Europe is 'poorer' than Western Europe, during the war they were helpless and were taken over by Germany or the Soviets, with the fall of both empires countries taken by Hitler. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Most of these people migrated to Germany after the war. However, people in both areas work hard with about 40 hours per week spent working (the same amount). Nationalism, therefore, was an important element in the culture of Eastern Europe for a long time, sometimes leading to major wars. Judaism - Eastern European Jews once numbered in the millions; however, they were nearly wiped out during the Holocaust. Their situation relative to Western Europe has not become better 70 years after WWII. Eastern Europe is home to a number of mountain ranges, including the Musala, the region's tallest mountain. Last Updated on March 19, 2022 by QCity Editorial Stuffif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'questionscity_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-questionscity_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Foreigners visiting Europe often find themselves wondering what the differences are between Eastern and Western Europe. This is interesting because it shows that the wealth divide between Eastern and Western Europe existed long before the modern era. In 2017, the most recent year for which data is available, per-capita disposable income was 19,909 per year in the former East Germany the equivalent of about $22,500 based on the average euro-to-dollar exchange rate that year. Up until the beginning of November, the spike in the death rate was largely driven by the Czech Republic. 10. Eastern Europe squandered its spring gains and then repeated the mistakes made by the west in spring: waiting until cases and deaths are out of control before imposing controls. Although they may seem like completely different worlds at first glance, there are some striking similarities between eastern and western European countries that can help travelers decide where to go on vacation or which country to live in after college graduation. Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms, Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza, Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19, Difference Between Motorola Droid Bionic and Droid HD, Difference Between Coherence and Consistency, What is the Difference Between PEP and PrEP, What is the Difference Between Syphilis and Chancroid, What is the Difference Between Open and Closed Mitosis, What is the Difference Between Typical and Atypical Trigeminal Neuralgia, What is the Difference Between Menactra and Menveo, What is the Difference Between Soft Skills and Technical Skills, What is the Difference Between Idiopathic Hypersomnia and Narcolepsy. The Chinese invented gunpowder, but Hoffman, whose work applies economic theory to historical contexts, argues that certain political and economic circumstances allowed the Europeans to advance gunpowder technology at an unprecedented rateallowing a relatively small number of people to quickly take over much of the rest of the globe. Coronavirus: why is eastern Europe's second wave so much worse than its About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. 1. Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute has put together some apples-to-apples data suggesting the answer is no. Although Europe represents only about 8 percent of the planet's landmass, from 1492 to 1914, Europeans conquered or colonized more than 80 percent of the entire world. Eastern Europe is a subregion of the European continent. Maybe we should remind him that Mexico and China, as US states, would both be far below our poorest state Mississippi by 51% and 62% respectively for GDP per capita; and Japan would be barely above our poorest state Mississippi. Its also a sign of prosperity that, when they do earn American dollars, foreigners often choose to invest those funds in the American economy (remember, the necessary flip side of a trade deficit is a capital surplus). 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So more spending would not only mean greater odds of victory over an enemy, but more rapid change in military technology. Bohemia (Czech lands) was one of the biggest and most developed economic centers of the Holy Roman Empire. Five of the six states in the former East Germany with the exception of the city-state of Berlin had lower per-capita productivity in 2018 than the West German state with the lowest per-capita productivity, Schleswig-Holstein. - Definition & Types, Ad Hoc Balancing Theory: Definition & Examples, English Common Law System: Definition & History, Jeremy Bentham: Biography, Theory & Ethics, Working Scholars Bringing Tuition-Free College to the Community. Germany has a higher percentage of its population living in urban areas than any other European Union member state. Romania is probably the most unusual country in this region. ), See also: How the attitudes of West and East Germans compare, 30 years after fall of Berlin Wall. This is Part 6 of an 8-Part series on Geography and Culture. I don't discount Mr Sowell's argument, I would add a major game changer was between the eastern and the western doctrine of the Trinity. By introducing very strict prevention measures early on, countries in the region had significantly fewer COVID-related deaths than their western European counterparts.. In either case, you'll still be spending money on the military and on military research. Through this article, let us examine the differences further. Western Europe refers to the western part of Europe. Resource 01: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Eastern_EuropeResource 02: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe, Differences Between Eastern And Western Europe, Differences Between Eastern And Western Culture, Differences Between Eastern and Western Roman Empire, Differences Between Eastern And Western Religions, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Eastern_Europe, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Europe.