original: prior to world war i , the near east referred to relatively nearby lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean .
simplifications: before world war i , the near east was considered the nearby lands of the ottoman empire , the middle east was northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east was considered to be the countries along the western pacific ocean and eastern indian ocean . 1 . prior to world war i , the near east referred to relatively nearby lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean . before world war i , the near east referred to nearby lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries by the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean . before world war i , the near east meant fairly close lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean . prior to world war i , the near east referred to relatively nearby lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean . before world war i , the near east was the name for nearby lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean . prior to world war i , the near east referred to nearby lands of the ottoman empire , middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and countries along the eastern indian ocean . before world war i , the near east referred to relatively nearby lands of the ottoman empire , the middle east to northwestern south asia and central asia , and far east for countries along the western pacific ocean and the countries along the eastern indian ocean .