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

[KostasKouvalis]

As a Polish, this is one thing I'm annoyed about, and it's also surprising, considering we're EVERYWHERE!

[Just_Ken]

Eastern Europe during the age of colonisation was largely carved up between Germany, Russia and Austro-Hungaria.

Well Poland for instance was largely part of Germany & Russia at the time, Germany did have colonies in Africa and elsewhere up until the end of WW1.

Russia had colonies and still does today. While America was winning the west and western Europeans were colonising around the world Russia was colonising in the East, all the way to Alaska. Alaska was sold to the US, the Russians fought brutal wars with the native Alaskans.

Austro-hungaria was always too busy standing guard against Ottoman invasions and colonisations. Though they were ruled by the Hapsburgs, the Hapsburgs also ruled the Spainish empire at its height.

At the start of the age of exploration it was European nations like Spain, England, france, Portugal and Holland that had access to the Atlantic that were able to go out and colonise and develop rich maritime trade routes. Eastern European countries were mostly land locked or stuck in the Mediterranean and black sea looking east to the traditional silk road trade routes and having to constantly fight wars for their survival.

The Russians before and since struggled to set up warm water ports that would allow them to trade all year around but were never able to manage it. Even today their baltic fleet can't sail into the black sea and their black sea fleet can't leave the black sea. Their pacific fleet is iced in for large parts of the year.

Poland did not exist as an independent country from 1795 until late 1918, a period of 123 years.

[julie09]

Because many of these countries had fewer financial and maritime resources and faced powerful enemies such as the Ottoman Empire, Russia, and others. With limited resources, they had to prioritize defending ther than building overseas colonial empires.

[KostasKouvalis]

It's a shame

[TonyMetal___1986]

Are you polish or greek kostas tsoukalos?

[KostasKouvalis]

Polish

[TonyMetal___1986]

Your name sounds greek, never knew that you were polish, you have reminded me of that polish mafia movie 😂

[TonyMetal___1986]

Based on a true story

[KostasKouvalis]

It's not my real name. Just like I'm guessing your real name isn't Tony Metal

Oooooh, which one? Is it the one where the mobster kidnaps the girl and tries to make her fall in love with him?

[TonyMetal___1986]

My real name is Tony 🙂

That's the movie i was talking about, you must watch it since you're Polish 😁

youtube.com/shorts/HCoV4zTwkLo?si=1MLijWaQGUCo73s4

[KostasKouvalis]

Tony. Very traditional Arabic name😂

"365 Dni". Not gonna lie, I actually haven't seen it myself yet.