We live in a world where everything is changing very quickly. The only constant that we are all used to is the location of states on the world map. We seem to know absolutely everything about them from the time of school. But here, as it turns out, surprises await us periodically. Where do you think Russia is located - in Europe or Asia? This question still excites many scientific minds, each theory has its opponents and supporters. In addition, you should not consider this topic only from the point of view of geographical location. After all, the cultural traditions of Russia also have their roots in Europe and Asia. What part of the world has affected us the most?
Continent Eurasia: the geographical location of Russia
Russia is an amazing country. It spreads over vast expanses, the area of which exceeds seventeen thousand square kilometers. At the same time, we managed to find ourselves at the intersection of two great cultures - the West and the East. This significantly influenced many events in the history of our country, because multinationality and tolerance for other religions were instilled in the Russians in connection with the extraordinary geographical location of the state.
Eurasia is the largest continent in the world, and Russia occupies more than one third of its area. Moreover, it is an amazing fact that only twenty-three percent of our country is located in the European part of the mainland. But the remaining seventy-seven percent of the territories are in the Asian part. But the majority of the country's population - and this is more than eighty percent of all residents - is concentrated in the European part. In this regard, scientists of all times and ranks are tormented, trying to determine what Russia is - Asia or Europe. After all, it is difficult to imagine that some people can be equally European and Asian.
Russian borders
It is not surprising that the features of the geographical location are decisive in the country's foreign and domestic policy. After all, its borders stretch for twelve thousand kilometers and often pass through the water arteries and mountain ranges.
It seems quite natural for Europeans that the border between Europe and Asia in Russia runs somewhere inside the country and is displayed on a map. It is difficult for the average European to realize that one country can be so huge and be part of Europe and Asia at the same time, without a real border separating these parts of the world.
The movement of borders between Europe and Asia from ancient times to the present day
To understand how the conditional border of Europe and Asia appeared on the territory of Russia, you need to know the history and premises of this division. Even in antiquity it was known that the boundary between the two parts of the world exists. But by today it has undergone significant changes. For example, the ancient Greeks were sure that it runs right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. That is how the world looked in their view. A little later, the Greek astronomer and mathematician Ptolemy authoritatively declared that the border runs through the Don River and the Kerch Strait. This information was recognized as the only true one, and until the eighteenth century, scientists adhered to this theory.
In the Middle Ages, Europeans had a rather vague idea of geography, so they did not even think about where Russia is located - in Europe or Asia. The very presence of Russian people in Eurasia greatly surprised Europeans. In addition, they did not see the point of drawing conditional borders within one state - this is still the privilege of modern philosophers and scientists.
Only in the eighteenth century did the theory appear that the border between Europe and Asia in Russia runs along the Ural Mountains. Moreover, the need to accept this conditional boundary has long been disputed in the scientific community. Even Mikhail Vasilievich Lomonosov did not agree with this theory and believed that the border should go along the Volga and Don.
Modern world: conditional border between Europe and Asia
In the modern world, it is generally accepted that the division between Europe and Asia on a single continent, which is Eurasia, is simply inexpedient. But a conditional boundary still exists, it is considered to be a hypothetical line passing along the Ural ridge, starting from the Kara Sea. Moreover, part of the Russian regions and cities remains in Europe, while the other is already territorially related to Asia.
Russia: Asia or Europe? Opinion of the Western World
If we did find out the conditional border between Europe and Asia, it will be interesting to find out what the representatives of Western civilization think about this problem. How do they see this hypothetical boundary? And do they recognize her at all?
Surprisingly, on the maps printed in the USA before the collapse of the USSR at the end of the last century, there was a very real line dividing Europe and Asia. It passed along the western border of the USSR, and our country was completely and completely related to Asia. And everything that lay outside this framework was Europe. According to this division, even Turkey, which in our understanding is a truly eastern country, was considered a part of Europe. This suggests that the real border is in the minds of people, not on maps. The Europeans mentality has deep confidence in the existence of a kind of "barbaric Asian Russia." Moreover, this confidence has not been erased so far.
If on the streets of any European state you become interested in what Russia is Asia or Europe, you will be surprised how much the answer depends on the attitude to our country. Opponents of Russia will argue that we are Asians, and our supporters will recognize that we are an integral part of Europe. So who are we really?
Which civilization does Russia belong to - Europe or Asia?
How to judge the mentality of a people that is scattered across a vast territory located at the crossroads of the two greatest civilizations? In many cases, Europeans think we are true Asians. But the paradox of the situation is that the Russians themselves cannot determine their affiliation. This is truly an unprecedented fact, because every Chinese or Frenchman will answer the question about their affiliation more than definitely. Let's try to shed light on the historical influence of European and Asian civilization on the formation and cultural traditions of Russia.
European civilization: characteristics and features
It is difficult to determine how Russia is Asia or Europe, without understanding the special and striking features of these civilizations. First of all, it is necessary to understand that European civilization is a complex fusion of rules, traditions, cultural values and religion. Despite many differences, Europeans are very much connected. The main distinguishing feature of European civilizations is the ability to cooperate with each other. The main part of this system is the family, but all issues can be resolved through the unification and voting of many families. Therefore, in Europe, democratic freedoms are so valued - without them, the Western world does not imagine its existence.
Asian civilization: what is it?
The Asian civilization, which is often written and talked about, does not exist in principle. It consists of many different worlds having a completely different religious basis, but influencing each other in the process of historical development. There is little common in these worlds, but we can say that clan thinking is characteristic of all Asians. The political structure of Asian countries is based on the protection of clans, rather than individual individuals.
Russia: Asian or European Heritage?
And yet, how to understand what Russia is? Asia? Or Europe? Surprisingly, it does not have the distinguishing features of a particular civilization. She is absolutely distinctive and extraordinary. This is not to say that we, as Europeans, value family most of all, or, as Asians, we build our life on the basis of clan affiliation. All this allows scientists to conclude that, being at the crossroads of civilizations, Russia was able to develop into a new type of civilization, different from everything known before.
Perhaps we finally drew a line under a more than three hundred year debate about Russia's affiliation. Occupying almost the whole of Eurasia, we did not become Europe. And we cannot be called Asia. We are representatives of Russian civilization, which has a rich history and unique cultural traditions.