Occident / Western world
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Occident
A cultural-historical term for Europe or the Western world, whose culture was shaped by Greco-Roman antiquity and Christianity. The term is often used as a contrast to 'Morgenland' (Orient).
Die Philosophie der Antike ist eine der geistigen Grundlagen des Abendlandes.
The philosophy of antiquity is one of the intellectual foundations of the Occident.
The word is made up of 'der Abend' (evening) and 'das Land' (land). It is a poetic term for the West, meaning the direction in which the sun sets. The opposite is 'das Morgenland' (Orient), where the sun rises.
Romane von Karl May handeln oft von Abenteuern im Morgenland und Abendland.
Karl May's novels often deal with adventures in the Orient and the Occident.
The adjective 'abendländisch' (Western/Occidental) is derived from the noun 'das Abendland' (the Occident/Western world). It is used to describe culture, history, philosophy, or art from this cultural sphere.
Die Demokratie gilt als eine Errungenschaft der abendländischen Kultur.
Democracy is considered an achievement of Western culture.
'Abendland' (Occident/Western world) is not a neutral geographical term like 'Westeuropa' (Western Europe). It is a cultural-historical term that is often used in intellectual, political, or philosophical debates and can sound elevated or sometimes old-fashioned.
In der Debatte ging es um die gemeinsamen Werte des Abendlandes.
The debate was about the shared values of the Occident.
west
Westen usually refers to the Western states and societies in a modern political or cultural sense. Abendland is more strongly marked by historical and ideological associations and emphasizes Europe's shaping by antiquity and Christianity. Westen is therefore generally more appropriate for contemporary geopolitical statements.
Der Vortrag behandelt den Einfluss der Antike und des Christentums auf das Abendland.
The lecture examines the influence of antiquity and Christianity on the Occident.
Die Zeitung berichtet über die politischen Beziehungen zwischen China und dem Westen.
The newspaper reports on the political relations between China and the West.
