The Eastern Question is one of the defining aspects of the relationship between what is considered the West (today’s United Kingdom, Germany, France, etc., previously the British Empire, the French Empire, Austria-Hungary, and so on and so forth) and the East (Russia and its sphere of influence in Eastern and Central Europe). The central point of this Eastern Question was contention over the influence and degree of control these opposing powers would have over the slowly dying Ottoman Empire. Additionally, the Eastern Question dealt with the issues of colonialism - as Western Europe spread to dominate the Americas, Africa, and parts of Asia, Russia felt pressured to expand as well, to keep up with the inflow of money and goods these western empires gained from their new colonies. Both West and East felt threatened by the other and sought to expand their power and influence to belligerently push the other out of the competition for primacy.
