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Central Europe

Definition

Central Europe is a region located in the middle of the European continent, typically including countries like Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and Switzerland.

Analogy

Think of Europe as a large house. Western Europe would be the living room with all its modern amenities and Eastern Europe would be the kitchen where traditional recipes are still followed. Central Europe then is like the dining room - it's where elements from both sides meet and blend together.

Related terms

Western Europe: This term refers to the western part of Europe which includes countries such as France, UK, Spain and Italy. These nations have historically been more economically developed than their eastern counterparts.

Eastern Bloc: This was a group of socialist states under Soviet influence during the Cold War that included many countries in Eastern and Central Europe.

European Union (EU): An economic and political union involving 27 European countries. It has standardized laws across member states allowing free movement of people, goods and services.