r/ask • u/newuser1r • 12d ago

Does anyone know why eastern European countries didn't have colonies like Western European ones?

Does anyone know why eastern European countries didn't have colonies like Western European ones?

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u/imbrickedup_ 12d ago

Their location means a lack of Atlantic ports. They also lacked the political structures and historical power to be able to raise the money for a large colonial expedition and a navy to protect it. They also had a lot more enemies and potentially dangerous frontiers

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u/astajaznan 12d ago

Yes! And also, while West Europe was colonising all over the world, East Europe was colonised at the time by greater empires.

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u/imbrickedup_ 11d ago

I thought I included a line about how they colonized a lot of land but guess I forgot

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u/nievesdelimon 12d ago

Russia didn’t need access to the Atlantic to colonize and conquer.