Western Europe

Western Europe is the western region of Europe. Its exact extent can vary depending on what we are talking about. The idea of "the West" started in Europe when people compared it to "the East." At first, it referred to the western part of the ancient Mediterranean world, the Latin West of the Roman Empire, and "Western Christendom".

During the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery in the 15th century, the idea of Europe as "the West" began to take shape, slowly replacing the term "Christendom." By the time of the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution, people more often used the terms "Eastern Europe" and "Western Europe."

The differences between Western and Eastern Europe became very clear during the Cold War. From 1945 to 1991, Europe was divided by the Iron Curtain into two blocks. The Western Bloc was led by the US and the NATO alliance, while the Eastern Bloc was led by the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. These two blocks were controlled by two global superpowers, each with its own political and economic systems.

Historical divisions

The idea of "the West" started in Europe as a way to describe the western part of the old Mediterranean world. Long ago, when the Roman Empire was strong, there was a big difference between the eastern parts that spoke mostly Greek and the western parts that spoke Latin. This split became even stronger over time.

Later, during a time called the Cold War, Europe was divided again — this time into two groups. One group, called the Western Bloc, was influenced by the United States. The other, the Eastern Bloc, was influenced by the Soviet Union. This division was called the Iron Curtain. But in 1989, the Iron Curtain came down, and many countries that were once separated became free to make their own choices.

Modern divisions

Main article: United Nations geoscheme

The United Nations has a system for dividing the world into regions for statistical purposes. In this system, the countries considered part of Western Europe include Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Other organizations have slightly different lists of countries in Western Europe. For example, the Central Intelligence Agency includes Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom in Western Europe, while grouping Andorra, Portugal, and Spain in Southwestern Europe.

Population

The population of Western Europe can be calculated in different ways depending on which areas are included. Using a strict definition from the CIA and data from 2018, we can estimate the number of people living there. Another way is to include areas known as "South-Western Europe," which would change the total number.

The main city for some countries might not be where the government operates from. For example, in one country, the government works from The Hague, even if that is not the usual capital city.

Climate

The climate in Western Europe changes depending on where you are. Along the coasts of Italy, Portugal, and Spain, the weather is dry and warm, known as a Mediterranean climate. In places like the Pyrenees and the Alps, the climate is alpine. The western and northwestern parts have milder, wetter weather influenced by the North Atlantic Current. Western Europe is also an area where heatwaves are becoming more common.

Languages

See also: Languages of Europe, Indo-European languages, and List of Indo-European languages

Western European languages mainly belong to two big families: the Romance languages, which come from the Latin language of the Roman Empire, and the Germanic languages, which started in southern Scandinavia. Romance languages are mostly spoken in the south and center of Western Europe, while Germanic languages are spoken in the north, including places like the British Isles and the Low Countries, as well as parts of Northern and Central Europe.

Other languages in Western Europe include the Celtic languages such as Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Manx, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton, and Basque, which is unique because it is not related to any other language. Today, many countries in Western Europe work to protect and support their regional and minority languages. The Council of Europe has special agreements to help protect these languages.

Economy

Western Europe is one of the richest regions in the world. Germany has the highest gross domestic product in Europe and the largest financial surplus of any country. Luxembourg has the world's highest GDP per capita, and Germany also has the highest net national wealth of any European state.

Switzerland and Luxembourg have some of the highest average wages in the world. Norway ranks very high on the Social Progress Index, showing strong social and economic performance.

Global impact

The idea of "the West" started in Europe as a way to describe itself compared to "the East." Originally, it referred to the western part of the ancient Mediterranean world, the Latin-speaking half of the Roman Empire, and later, "Western Christendom." Over time, this idea of the West has had a big effect on the world, influencing many areas through exploration, colonialism, and industrial changes.

The concepts and developments from Western Europe helped shape global history, leading to major shifts in trade, culture, and technology around the world.