Stringency of COVID-19 restrictions, second wave, eastern Europe. Along with the inventions of the industrial revolution, countries have been able to gain a high economic development rate. The Hagia Sophia is now a mosque. Electoral politics could explain the reluctance of the two countries to enter another lockdown with politicians seeing it as an unpopular measure that would also delay elections. And if you prefer direct measures of living standards, then data on consumption from the OECD also shows that America is considerably more prosperous. Learn what is considered Eastern European, view a list of Eastern European countries and discover Eastern Europe religions. If we look at the stringency of control measures, we can also see that not all countries acted in the same way. Among people ages 15 to 24, for example, the average unemployment rate in the former East Germany was 7.7% in 2018, compared with 4.1% in the former West. These are the countries that are in Eastern Europe: Russia (Partly in Asia). Eastern Europe: People speak languages with Slavic roots. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Transport, accommodation and food tend to take a smaller bite out of your wallet, without compromising on history, culture, and experience. 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. One thing is clear: eastern Europe exited the first wave at the end of June in much better shape than western Europe. The key difference between Western and Eastern Europe is that Eastern Europe consists of countries that once belonged to the Soviet block, unlike the Western European countries. | Thomas Sowell. Being dominated for centuries has led to lingering inequality and long-lasting effects in many formerly colonized . One thing is clear: eastern Europe exited the first wave at the end of June in much better shape than western Europe. Such enemies existed in the pastthey were fighting for glory on the battlefield or victory over an enemy of the faithand one could argue that they pose a threat today as well. Here is a look at how economic conditions in the former East and West Germany have changed over time, how they compare today and how people in the two areas perceive these differences. Its a sign of American prosperity that we can afford to buy more from other nations than they can afford to buy from us. Most of the countries in Eastern Europe, including Romania, were never part of the Soviet Union. 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. Your email address will not be published. However, Poles, Croats, and other Catholic Slavs use the Latin alphabet (the same alphabet used by English). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Until 1991, the Soviet Union controlled everything from the Bering Strait to the Rhine. The 2018 version of the report is available here in English. The more they spent, the more chances they had to improve their military technology through trial and error while fighting wars. and I thought it was because they just freed themselves from communism a few decades ago. Or, that when Europeans began to travel the world, people in other countries did not have the immunity to fight off the diseases they brought with them. Ukraine was the home and originator of "Rus" civilization pre-Mongol conquest with Kiev being a strong city when Moscow was a backwater. I received my bachelor's degree in history from George Washington University and later earned a master's degree in the same subject from Uppsala University in Sweden. The difference is so stark that Eastern Europe is sometime not even counted as "Western Civilization." Communism explains some of it more recently, but it doesn't explain why it was also true in the medieval and ancient times. Where is Eastern Europe? All of the countries of Western and Northern Europe are very close to the ocean, and largely surrounded by it. Answer (1 of 7): The time lapse. Are there any overarching themes to your work? There are some exceptions, however. Great work Dr. Sowell. But if these factors were at play in the first wave, they havent had the same effect in the second. In this video, we will explore the reasons behind the economic gap between Western and Eastern Europe. From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to The Great Wall Of China, these landmarks are instantly recognizable and attract millions of visitors each year. Love Sowell. Dude, the question literally asks if eastern Europe was always poorer than western europe. Slovenia is the latest country in eastern Europe to carry out extensive tests in an effort to prove that multinational companies have been fobbing off eastern consumers with poorer-quality . And Im debunking the argument that we should copy nations such as Denmark by allowing a larger government in the United States (though I do want to copy Danish policies in other areas, which generally are more pro-economic liberty than what we have in America). 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! @media (max-width: 1171px) { .sidead300 { margin-left: -20px; } } A heretical Christian sect, known as the Hussites (named after Jan Huss), challenged the Catholic Church in part of Eastern Europe during the early 15th century, but they were stamped out by the Catholic political elite. | Thomas Sowell. Hong Kong and Singapore, for instance, used to be poor jurisdictions. Max Weber Fellow in Social and Political Sciences, European University Institute. I've looked at changes in technology that influence agriculture, and I've studied the development of financial markets, and in between those two, I was also studying why financial crises occur. Then you have more capital to invest, which allows for growth of the countrys industry. Western European countries differ from each other in terms of their history, languages, religions, and political systems. In this region may Catholics and Protestant Christians can be seen. Amazing how so many refuse to acknowledge how climate and geography go hand and hand with a countrys economic development. Communist regimes were politically repressive, and stifled the economic development of the region. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Gender. 1. Cheap travel Eastern Europe can be significantly less expensive than Western Europe. The continent of Europe can be divided into two regions as the western and eastern Europe. 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. Today, not a single east German company is listed on the DAX-30, the nations leading stock exchange index, the report notes. Most of the major periods in European history (Middle Ages, Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment), also affected Eastern Europe. Whats the difference between Eastern and Western Europe? Please, enable JavaScript and reload the page to enjoy our modern features. The standard of living of the population until the mid 19th century was about the same. Lets get back to whether people in places such as Denmark (or anywhere else in Europe) enjoy more prosperity than their American counterparts. The Polish Lithuanian commonwealth was extremely powerful and wealthy by controling the rivers and by extension farmland and trade between Baltic and Black Seas. If, for some reason, somebody was holding a gun to my head and demanding that we copy the policies of a nation from the European Union,the Nordic countries would be among my top choices. Cultural Syncretism Definition & Examples | What is Religious Syncretism? 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. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. What led you to investigate the global conquests of western Europe? They were subjugated by, at war with, or were the front lines and battlefields of the austrian wars against the Ottomans for four and a half centuries. Many East German businesses are part of western German or foreign corporations.. The Eastern European area bore the brunt of the Asian invasions too as first the Huns, then Avars, Slavs, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Mongols, and Turks all swept into the Balkans, Carpathian Basin, and the lands between the Black and Baltic seas each time wiping out native political powers. All findings are based on data from the German governments 2019 report, as well as the Centers recent survey. 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. The impact of modernization and individualization can be clearly seen in the lifestyles of people. Spain has more high-speed rail tracks than any other European country. So that's not the answerit's something else. He also serves on the editorial board of the Cayman Financial Review. Central and East Europe were simply geographically unfortunate as wave after wave of immigrants and invaders moved through the region from China and were stopped before they made it into W Europe. 4. Even much of Russia is located in Asia. That's because the Black Death was at its peak. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Of course not. They are languages that descend from Latin, the language of the Romans. The reporter from the Wall Street Journal who shared it remarked that Purple areas are rich as US states. Christianity is the main religion in Eastern Europe. I'm thinking the USSR isn't the reason why the non-Balkan east is poor, so from a wider historical perspective, what's the real reason? As its name suggests, Eastern Europe is the eastern part of the European continent. 3. However "poverty" refers only to the revenues of States and the level of economic development. I understand why it looks that way but that's because of your perspective. [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. You want areas that produce finished products that are part of external trade systems. The majority of western Europeans live within 50 kilometers (30 miles) from their place of birth. That was a really great question and it got me interested. This is why Eastern Europe, in general, is poorer than countries in Western, Central, and Northern Europe. Some people include Greece and the Baltic countries, as well. 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. Monotheism Overview & Examples | What is Monotheistic Religion? 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. What kinds of factors are included in this model? A long line of horse-lords swept west from the steppe into eastern europe, and would generally displace the tribes living there - all the way up to the Mongols. However, over the past 20 years, most of the nations of Eastern Europe have joined the . Lesley has taught American and World History at the university level for the past seven years. 9. You also have more free time to learn other skills and trades. As an eastern european I want to say that while what Sowell explained might be true, the reasons he gave are minor in comparison to the economic damage that Russia and Communism caused in eastern Europe. South Asian Countries | Religion, Culture & Countries List. The Romanian language consists of 75% Latin, 20% Dacian and 5% Slavic. Additionally, some definitions include Greece as part of Eastern Europe, while others maintain that Greece is, in fact, part of Southern Europe. - Quora Answer (1 of 107): If you had a world atlas in 1350, you'd see an apocalyptic wasteland where Western Europe is now. You can refer to the lesson, but try to recall as many from memory as you can. Serbia was especially rich in mineral wealth and with trade from Adriatic to Aegean during the Middle Ages. For that to happen, the countries have to be small and close to one another. The vast majority of people in Eastern Europe speak a Slavic language. Here are some notable geographic features in Easter Europe: Eastern Europe is the easternmost region in Europe. Put another way, people in the former East Germany earned 86% the after-tax income of their West German counterparts in 2017. 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. Adjusting for population size, both cases and deaths were substantially lower in the east, as shown in this comparison of the COVID-19 death rate in the two regions. We can also compare how restrictive the two regions disease-prevention measures were during the first wave using the Oxford COVID-19 government response tracker (OxCGRT). Total compensation, gross wages and salaries, and disposable (or after-tax) income have long been lower in the former East Germany than in the former West, according to the governments report. More specifically, the Eastern orthodox Church is the branch of Christianity with the largest number of adherents in this region. This button displays the currently selected search type. It is followed by a brief description of the four major religions in the region. Western Europe (Robinson Project)By Serg!o [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons, 2. When examining the culture and society of the countries of Eastern Europe, a clear difference can be seen in family structures. 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There are many possible explanations for why history played out this way, but few can explain why the West was so powerful for so long. There are many different religions practiced in eastern European countries, including Christianity and Islam. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'questionscity_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-questionscity_com-banner-1-0'); Western Europe has been characterized by its diversity as well as its commitment to democracy and human rights. The technology grew to include more than just guns: armed ships, fortifications that can resist artillery, and more, and the Europeans became the best at using these things. And the more that the political leaders spend, the better their chances of defeating other leaders and, in the long run, of dominating the other cultures. Has Eastern Europe always been poorer than Western Europe, and if so, why? Richer not only than Europe, but even more prosperous than the United States. (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax 5. 9. Some of the countries that fall under this category are United Kingdom, Norway, Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Vatican City, Netherlands, Sweden, Malta, Italy, Iceland, Germany, Greece, Finland, etc. Eastern Europe has a total population of about 258 million people. Eastern Europe is a geographical term that refers to the easternmost countries of Europe. Some argued that this was because of economics: that eastern European countries locked down early because they feared their economies would . Most people in western Europe speak at least two languages, one of which will be English. Spain and Portugal are often included in definitions of Western Europe despite not bordering any other country that belongs to the group. >Eastern European men >Like seriously, they are so formal, handsome, and respectful.. Others suggested this eastern European exceptionalism could be explained by culture, with success in limiting the first wave being down to a mentality of fear and readiness to follow harsh rules stemming from the communist era. It's 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"). Stringency of COVID-19 control measures in eastern and western Europe. But exploring Soviet-era Eastern Europe is not even half the story. This tool measures the stringency of efforts to control the virus on a scale of 0-100, with 100 being the most restrictive. what does cupid want to control; best tattoo shops in alabama; why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. The main differences are the recognition of the pope as the head of the church, and the fact that priests in the Eastern orthodox faith are allowed to marry. Then you have more capital to invest, which allows for . An important factor was also the raids of nomads from the steppes, ravaged Eastern 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! 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. It severely inhibited political and economic development. Mountain ranges - Urals, Apls, Musala (Tallest Mountain range in the region, located in Bulgaria), Carpathians, Balkan Mountains, Rivers - Volga, Danube (longest), Dnieper, Oder, Don. The way to think of Europe is that it is a big collection of peninsulas jutting out from Asia. Sorry anon point already proven . 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. At least if the goal is more economic output and higher living standards. Despite these differences, the former East has narrowed the gap with the former West substantially in recent decades. While the Soviet Union was once considered to be the most important country in Eastern Europe, many ex-Soviet nations are, in fact, not even in Europe. Americans are not stupid, and when they complain about Europe, they are complaining about Western Europeans who are richer than Eastern neighbors yet less attentive to their own needs. Very hard for a country to be doing well after all those struggles. 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. ------------------------------------------------------------ What were the politics and the political context of the economy that resulted in this ability to tax? spidey1z. And all of this describes Europe. why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? The reason . Bernie Sanders, for instance, looks at nations such as Denmark and Sweden today and says that America should copy their expansive welfare states. The spending on war gave leaders a chance to try out new weapons, new armed ships, and new tactics, and to learn from mistakes on the battlefield. Things are much better if the conflict concerns something that can be split upsuch as money or land. Western Europe is known for many things, but perhaps most famously it is the home of some of the worlds greatest tourist attractions. The romance languages form another large branch of the Indo-European languages family. Romanian is a romance language. Islam - Islam came to Eastern Europe via the Ottoman Empire. Which is mostly Southern Europe and Anatolia (under the Macedonian dynasty at least). It also boasts some of the richest economies in the world with Germany being one of those countries at its forefront. Most of Eastern Europe was not touched by any Ancient advanced civilisation, either - they had to develop their own, except for the South Slavs. The fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago this week brought far-reaching social and economic changes to communist East Germany, and people on both sides of the former barrier say the changes that have occurred since 1989 have had a positive influence on living standards in their country, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. Even the Catholic Church held a different view from the eastern church.