Those improvements can help at times when wars are necessaryfor instance, when we are fighting against enemies with whom we cannot negotiate. However, unlike other Latin people, Romanians belong to the Eastern Orthodox faith, and unlike almost all other Eastern Orthodox countries, Romanians use the Latin alphabet. Whats the difference between Eastern and Western Europe? Excellent point. Then all the wars with the Turks and having to pretty much defeat the Nazis on their own. That percentage has changed little in recent years, but is far higher than in 1991, when per-capita disposable income in the former East was only 61% of that in the former West. Even before the Holocaust, Jews faced terrible discrimination from the Christian-majority populations in which they lived. But something like the smallpox epidemic that ravaged Mexico when the Spanish conquistador Hernn Corts overthrew the Aztec Empire just isn't the whole story of Corts's victory or of Europe's successful colonization of other parts of the world. For example, that Europe became industrialized more quickly and therefore became wealthier than the rest of the world. why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? Our World in Data COVID-19 Dataset. 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. Per-capita gross domestic product was 32,108 in the former East German states in 2018, compared with 42,971 in the former West German states. All countries in the region have seen significant increases in cases and deaths. Richer not only than Europe, but even more prosperous than the United States. Eastern Europe contained the virus so successfully in spring, it didnt experience the horrific hospital scenes seen in northern Italy, for example. 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). Both regions have a history of being ruled by powerful empires that brought change to the area. So, I put together an economic model of how this technology has advanced to come up with what I think is the real reason why the West conquered almost everyone else. crochet cardigan size chart on carolina thunderbirds salary; why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? Despite this, the Soviet Union did play an important role in the regions history. Create a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that lists and briefly describes the major geographical features of Eastern Europe. In the very successful countries, the leaders could impose very heavy taxes and spend huge sums on war. 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. 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 . Western Europe has the most Nobel Prize, winners. You can refer to the lesson, but try to recall as many from memory as you can. wu tang clan concert 2021; beauty and the beast symbolic interactionism One final comment. What made you turn to the idea of gunpowder technology as an explanation? Mountain ranges - Urals, Apls, Musala (Tallest Mountain range in the region, located in Bulgaria), Carpathians, Balkan Mountains, Rivers - Volga, Danube (longest), Dnieper, Oder, Don. - Definition & Process, Largest Revenue Sources for the Federal Government, What Do Archaeologists Study? Also economically, the Western European countries are much more advanced than the eastern European countries. @media (max-width: 1171px) { .sidead300 { margin-left: -20px; } } Explore Eastern Europe. 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. 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. Russias GDP per capita (PPP) was $14,900 as of 2018. For instance, Romanians speak a romance language. See here for the complete series: I love listening to Dr. Sowell's wonderful explanations for everything. 6. Today, both Judaism and the Yiddish language are scarce in this part of the world. Example: You could draw a long river to illustrate the blue Danube. 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"). 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. And I mean apocalyptic. 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. Where Eastern Europe begins, however, is a matter of opinion. Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe refers to the eastern part of Europe. 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. They often wonder if theyre even in the same country when they arrive at their destination! It started after I gave an undergraduate here a book to read about gunpowder technology, how it was invented in China and used in Japan and Southeast Asia, and how the Europeans got very good at using it, which fed into their successful conquests. Press J to jump to the feed. Eastern Europe is a term that typically refers to the countries in Eastern and Central Europe, which includes Russia. Here are some notable geographic features in Easter Europe: Eastern Europe is the easternmost region in Europe. What kinds of factors are included in this model? Then you have more capital to invest, which allows for growth of the countrys industry. A thousand years ago, no one would have ever expected that result, for at that point western Europe was hopelessly backward. There are some exceptions, however. Central American Countries & Facts | People, Tribes & Culture of Central America, Central America Geography | Map, Physical Features & Examples, Physical & Human Features of Europe | Mapping the Features of Europe, Comparing Life in Different Locations in Europe, Latin America | Population, Ethnic Groups & Demographics, Physical Features of Russia & Central Asia | Map, Characteristics & Geography, Where is Latin America? The capital of Romania is Bucharest, a city with approximately 1.8 million people. In this video, we will explore the reasons behind the economic gap between Western and Eastern Europe. Dude, the question literally asks if eastern Europe was always poorer than western europe. I think the main reason is that Europe is . 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. Gunpowder was really important for conquering territory; it allows a small number of people to exercise a lot of influence. 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! Eastern-Europe-map2 by CrazyPhunk self-made based upon: Image:Eastern-Europe-map2.png. A head start in the first wave. 4. Things are much better if the conflict concerns something that can be split upsuch as money or land. Europe Climate Zones & Classifications | What Is the Climate In Europe? For that to happen, the countries have to be small and close to one another. 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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. What were the politics and the political context of the economy that resulted in this ability to tax? Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute has put together some apples-to-apples data suggesting the answer is no. Luckily, this blog post will help you to understand some of the differences between these two parts of Europe. 6. The Hagia Sophia is now a mosque. Belgiums King Philippe is also Queen Mathildes husband. The more they spent, the more chances they had to improve their military technology through trial and error while fighting wars. Eastern Europe is more industrialized than Western Europe while Western European countries tend to be wealthier than their eastern counterparts. The Eastern Europeans developed their "taste" to the Western ways of life during the communist era around the 1970's 80's, based on stereotypes in films or on the rare visits Clean streets, orderly suburbs, homogenous (mainly white) population, comfortable life,. Higher Percentage: Theres a higher percentage of people living in poverty in eastern Europe than there is in western Europe.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'questionscity_com-leader-1','ezslot_3',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-questionscity_com-leader-1-0'); Unemployment Rate: Unemployment rates are much higher in eastern Europe. Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe is comparatively less advanced regarding the economy. the Ukraine, Belarus, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Turkey (western-most part). Continue with Recommended Cookies. See less Comments Until 1991, the Soviet Union controlled everything from the Bering Strait to the Rhine. Islam - Islam came to Eastern Europe via the Ottoman Empire. Some of the countries that belong to Eastern Europe are Albania, Bosnia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Russia, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Serbia, Slovakia, Moldova, Lithuania, etc. 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. The economy is comparatively lower and less stable than in Western Europe. Western Europe (Robinson Project)By Serg!o [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons, 2. Before that point, Western and Eastern Europe were relatively similar in prosperity. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. Bohemia (Czech lands) was one of the biggest and most developed economic centers of the Holy Roman Empire. The highest point in Eastern Europe is Mount Elbrus, which stands at 5642 meters high. Being dominated for centuries has led to lingering inequality and long-lasting effects in many formerly colonized . Answer (1 of 7): The time lapse. Since there is no exact definition of Eastern Europe, be sure your list includes countries that are sometimes included as part of Eastern Europe. All of the countries of Western and Northern Europe are very close to the ocean, and largely surrounded by it. Also, the people follow many religions such as Orthodox Christianityand also Islam. I wish we did live in that world, but unfortunately it's not realistic. What explains this reluctance to reintroduce restrictions? But if you look at the US average ($54,629), it obviously is higher than economic output in European nations. That being said, Ireland and the United Kingdom have the most economic freedom among EU nations, andSwitzerland would be at the top if the choice was broadened to non-EU nations in Europe. 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. They have distinct cultures, languages, traditions, and cuisine. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7s6piXiFK-TaMDsKM4I7IS7iaNiyONEM, How Geography Shaped Africa | Thomas Sowell, Why Cultures Are So Different? But Im digressing. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Up until the beginning of November, the spike in the death rate was largely driven by the Czech Republic. Eastern Europe is home to a number of mountain ranges, including the Musala, the region's tallest mountain. 1. Roma is the language of the people who used to be called Gypsies (The modern term for gypsies is "Roma."). Also Austria and Hungary drained ressources from the other areas (Bohemia being one of the few parts that was actually rather well off with a lot of industry). The GDP of Romania in year 2017 is $467 billion and PPP is approximately $25000. Example: 1.56% of Eastern Europeans are atheist. Understanding why eastern European countries chose to respond differently during the second wave is complicated, though. 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. There's a brain drain. In 2018, the average unemployment rate was 6.9% in the six states of the former East Germany, compared with 4.8% in the 10 states of the former West Germany. ------------------------------------------------------------ On average, Eastern Europeans live longer than western Europeans because they smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less alcohol on average. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. The vast majority of people in Eastern Europe speak a Slavic language. New research shows that this goes back about 1,000 years. How is your theory different? But a while ago I ran into this interesting post about the Romans in Eastern Europe: The Romans were mostly interested in conquering areas that had a high degree of self sufficiency which could provide a tax base for them to extract from. Transport, accommodation and food tend to take a smaller bite out of your wallet, without compromising on history, culture, and experience. This shows that eastern European countries took the opportunity to act quickly. Nationalism, therefore, was an important element in the culture of Eastern Europe for a long time, sometimes leading to major wars. By comparison, disposable income in the former West Germany was 23,283 a year, or about $26,300. David has taught Honors Physics, AP Physics, IB Physics and general science courses. 10. Pandemic fatigue is present across the entire continent, and may be especially present in the east, where some people may have felt that they went into a lockdown for nothing. Western European countries differ from each other in terms of their history, languages, religions, and political systems. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main From West to East the climate, becoming more severe (in Siberia - almost impossible for an agricultural civilization) because decrease in influence of the Gulf stream. Bernie Sanders, for instance, looks at nations such as Denmark and Sweden today and says that America should copy their expansive welfare states. Over the years I've been interested in a number of different things, and this new work puts together a lot of bits of my research. And all of this describes Europe. One explanation might be that these countries are victims of their own success. In either event, the people of Romania and Moldova are closely related. In 1914, really only China, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire had escaped becoming European colonies. Romania is probably the most unusual country in this region. Daniel J. Mitchell is a Washington-based economistwho specializes in fiscal policy, particularly tax reform, international tax competition, and the economic burden of government spending. In the Eastern European countries, the conservative ideas are more prominent in comparison to the Western region. I'd given it to him because the use of this technology is related to politics and fiscal systems and taxes, and as he was reading it, he noted that the book did not give the ultimate cause of why Europe in particular was so successful. He has a Masters in Education, and a Bachelors in Physics. Many of those that survived, emigrated to Israel or the US. 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. An error occurred trying to load this video. Eastern Europe was praised for being exceptional during the first wave of the pandemic. Western Europe: More Catholics and Protestant Christians can be seen. 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. However, if we look back at the death rates of the two regions in the graph above, its clear that eastern European countries introduced restrictions when experiencing far fewer cases and deaths. In 1991, per-capita productivity in the former East was less than half (43%) of productivity in the former West. 2. 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. 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. Western Europe: United Kingdom, Norway, Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Vatican City, Netherlands, Sweden, Malta, Italy, Iceland, Germany, Greece, Finland are some examples for countries that belong to Western Europe. Germany has a higher percentage of its population living in urban areas than any other European Union member state. Importantly, however, there have been major differences within eastern Europe too. Therefore, do not misunderstand the information. Through this article, let us examine the differences further. Make a list of at least seven of the largest cities in Eastern Europe. Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World, How the attitudes of West and East Germans compare, 30 years after fall of Berlin Wall, Gasoline costs more these days, but price spikes have a long history and happen for a host of reasons, Inflation has risen around the world, but the U.S. has seen one of the biggest increases, Views of the economy have turned sharply negative in many countries amid COVID-19, Prior to COVID-19, Urban Core Counties in the U.S. The reformation gave way to more literacy, the Protestant work ethic, which resulted in rapid advances in the sciences and technology. The Romanian language consists of 75% Latin, 20% Dacian and 5% Slavic. 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. Paris was this little walled fortress town, and Constantinople was so large it needed its own governor. Austria-Hungary is partially to blame. 7. For example, differences in economic strength could explain why the relatively richer Czech Republic waited to reintroduce restrictions (thinking it could bear the brunt of a high number of infections), but this doesnt account for the relatively poorer Romanias decision to do the same. Create a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that lists and provides statistics for the religions of Eastern Europe. It is related to Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese.