Ecumene

/ˈɛkjəmiːn/ noun

Definition

The inhabited world or the part of Earth where people live and have established civilizations.

Etymology

From Greek oikoumene (inhabited world), derived from oikos (house, home) and related to oikein (to dwell). The 'e' prefix comes from Greek ekumene evolution.

Kelly Says

Ancient geographers used ecumene to describe only the parts of the world they knew about—which is why their 'whole world' seems tiny to us now!

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