As opposed to the northern/southern hemisphere that has:
- a clear reference point (equators)
- traditionally we don’t model a rotation north/south
Western/eastern hemisphere
- doesn’t have a clear reference (Greenwich?)
- traditionally we model rotation on the north/south axis so western/eastern would depend from the time
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use of the term, “Western Hemisphere”, is from the writings of Sir Thomas Browne in 1646.
It doesn’t really make sense to blame its creation on the U.S, as it predates us by more than 100 years.
OK then. Let’s say that Western hemisphere is a concept popularized by US exceptionalists to justify their economic, political and military domination over the Americas.
You can say that if you wish, but it makes you sound like you just don’t want to admit you were wrong.
There’s plenty to blame the U.S. for, but it’s important to be honest if you want to be taken seriously.
You can say whatever you like and be wrong at the same time. The idea of being a “western nation” and the importance thereof long predates the United States being a great power.
I guess it comes from a european perspective, describing everything else as “wild west” or “near/far east”
That’s what I was thinking.