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.
Due to World War I, the Middle East referred to relatively close lands of the Ottoman Empire, the Middle East to the northwest of South Asia and Central Asia, and the Far East to countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean.