Changes

The term "'''Western'''" refers to "[[the West]]" (or the Occident), meaning those countries and people aligned with [[Western Christendom]] (as described by historian [[Arnold Toynbee]]). The Western world was led by England (see [[British Empire]]) until the ascendancy of the [[United States of America]].

"'''Western'''" refers to "[[the West]]" (the Occident), or Europe as opposed to Asia, or Occident (the East) is a term relating to those countries and people aligned with [[Western Christendom]] (as described by historian [[Arnold Toynbee]]). The Western world was led by England (see [[British Empire]]) until the ascendancy of the [[United States of America]].

However this term is not exclusively used to refer to anglophone nations nor is it used to refer to countries aligned on the western side on a standard [[world map]]. For example, European nations such as [[France]] and [[Germany]] are counted as "Western" states whereas some countries in [[South America]], such as [[Peru]] and [[Chile]], are not.

However this term is not exclusively used to refer to anglophone nations nor is it used to refer to countries aligned on the western side on a standard [[world map]]. European nations such as [[France]], [[Germany]] and [[Poland]] are counted as "Western" states whereas some countries in [[South America]], such as [[Peru]] and [[Chile]], are not. [[Russia]] is a Western country but it created its own flank within the West.

The general rule of thumb is that it is used to refer to nations that have an origin in the [[Latin]]/[[Germanic]] roots of Western Europe and have a similar high level of societal development (e.g [[Australia]].)  

The general rule of thumb is that it is used to refer to nations that have an origin in the [[Latin]]/[[Germanic]]/[[Slavic]] roots of and have a similar high level of societal development (e.g [[Australia]].)  

==See also==

==See also==

*[[Western (movie genre)]]

*[[Western (movie genre)]]

[[Category:Geography]]

[[Category:Geography]]