Near East, Middle East, Far East

SafeSurfer

Why has the term Middle East survived while we rarely hear anyone refer to the Near East or Far East anymore?

ILoveYourVibes

I've heard people still use them.

The middle east is in the news more though.

Our knowledge of Eastern Asia is far better than the Middle East.

Do you love Japanese and Vietnamese food, but hate Korean and Thai food? Well most people know what the means. What's the capital of Thailand? Where would you find an orangutan? What's the biggest city in China? Do you want to visit good Korea or bad Korea? Which county is famous for horse riding? etc.

Whereas for most of us, the Middle East is all a bit homogeneous from the outside. Muslim countries with similar food, culture, language, and relations with the West. Are they the same? No. But how is a regular person going to learn enough to distinguish Afghanistan from Iran.

One eyed Jack

SafeSurfer wrote: »

Why has the term Middle East survived while we rarely hear anyone refer to the Near East or Far East anymore?

It’s probably different circles people mix in, but often I’ll use the term Middle East or Far East. Near East though, never used it nor have ever heard it used by anyone?

Mid-West is common enough too, never heard of Near West or Far West though I have to admit.

ILoveYourVibes

Deleted User wrote: »

Our knowledge of Eastern Asia is far better than the Middle East.

Do you love Japanese and Vietnamese food, but hate Korean and Thai food? Well most people know what the means. What's the capital of Thailand? Where would you find an orangutan? What's the biggest city in China? Do you want to visit good Korea or bad Korea? Which county is famous for horse riding? etc.

Whereas for most of us, the Middle East is all a bit homogeneous from the outside. Muslim countries with similar food, culture, language, and relations with the West. Are they the same? No. But how is a regular person going to learn enough to distinguish Afghanistan from Iran.

Cyrpus and Israel are part of the middle east. It's not that exotic.

ILoveYourVibes

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Cyrpus and Israel are part of the middle east. It's not that exotic.

Yeah, and people refer to Israel directly. No one considers it to be culturally like the rest of the "Middle East".

Your Face

Dont hear 'Near East' as much because they are well on their way to becoming Westernised.

ILoveYourVibes

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah, and people refer to Israel directly. No one considers it to be culturally like the rest of the "Middle East".

Weird because 52 % of the jews there are mizrahi from the middle east.

They have a lot of Arab cultural influences.

ILoveYourVibes

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

Weird because 52 % of the jews there are mizrahi from the middle east.

They have a lot of Arab cultural influences.

Are you saying I'm wrong? Because I'm the only person who even tried to answer the OP's question. Some people just pick and pick at something.

I've explained that far Eastern countries are now referred to by name. I've explained that most people don't have a good general knowledge of the Middle East. And then you do a stupid confused emoji when I actually then show that while quoting a stat you had to Google.

zuxa gif iwo

the Far East, Pudsy Ryan, the colouring in bit, ...ah, memories!

ILoveYourVibes

Deleted User wrote: »

Are you saying I'm wrong? Because I'm the only person who even tried to answer the OP's question. Some people just pick and pick at something.

I've explained that far Eastern countries are now referred to by name. I've explained that most people don't have a good general knowledge of the Middle East. And then you do a stupid confused emoji when I actually then show that while quoting a stat you had to Google.

I don't I would say Oman or Jordan , Lebanon etc

I am not trying to pick at you. Apologies it it seemed that way.

THe middle east is not actually that big.

The USA is almost as big as the entire region

It only has 17 countries.

ILoveYourVibes

ILoveYourVibes wrote: »

I don't I would say Oman or Jordan , Lebanon etc

I am not trying to pick at you. Apologies it it seemed that way.

THe middle east is not actually that big.

The USA is almost as big as the entire region

It only has 17 countries.

Well you'd be in the tiny minority.. I know where they are geographically, and I know the name of two of their capitals, but that's about it. I assume they're majority Muslim, have an "Arab" culture, to us anyway, are somewhat affected by conflict based on Sunni - Shia divides, might have Shariah law. I don't know. I like most certainly don't know enough to ever bring them up with some research first. I don't know any cuisines particular to them.

As to the "East Asia", since I live in South East Asia, it pretty much only refers to HK and east of that. Maybe in Ireland, the term "Far East" would refer to South East and East Asia?

ILoveYourVibes

Deleted User wrote: »

Well you'd be in the tiny minority.. I know where they are geographically, and I know the name of two of their capitals, but that's about it. I assume they're majority Muslim, have an "Arab" culture, to us anyway, are somewhat affected by conflict based on Sunni - Shia divides, might have Shariah law. I don't know. I like most certainly don't know enough to ever bring them up with some research first. I don't know any cuisines particular to them.

No ...well not exactly



Lebannon is half muslimandhalf christian....it has the most religious diversity in the middle east. The christian population is made up of diff middle eastern Christian Churches. Copts etc. Orthodox.

UAE for example has the worlds 5th largest immigrant population. A lot of diff religions.

Its very westernized. Still a muslim majority but different.

Cyrpus is a mix of Greek and Turkish cypriots. The greeks are greek orthodox the turks muslim.

Syria is like 70% islam ...the rest is made up of Jews (yes there are syrian jews still living there) Druze Christian etc.

The rest are made up of over 90% muslim. Egypt Iran Iraq Palestine Oman etc.

Many Muslim-majority countries have constitutionally established Islam, or a specific form of it, as a state religion. Proselytism (converting people to another religion) is often illegal.

13 countries have defined themselves as Islamic states where Islam is the state religion.

Palestine is one of these. Proselyting is illegal for other religions besides Islam. Which is similar for most states that have Islam as the state religion though there are many palestinian christians.

Then there is obviously Isreal. Its 70% jewish. Its a jewish state. The rest are muslim mostly and christian then druze.

The worst places to be Christian though are Syria (its worse to be a christian than jewish there so i have heard) Yemen, Qatar Uzbekistan, Iraq and Iran.

Lebannon has one of the best reputations for religious freedom though I would also put UAE in particular Dubai and then obv Israel.

Yep, all well and good.. Just saying that a lack of regional knowledge by most is why "the Middle East" will continue to be used for a bunch of countries.