ABSTRACT
In its most general form, Max Weber uses the Orient as the opposite of the West, that is, to mean non-Western. In a number of places, he uses terms such as Asiatic and Oriental interchangeably when making generalizations regarding Oriental societies. In a number of places, he uses terms such as Asiatic and Oriental interchangeably when making generalizations regarding Oriental societies. Near East, Middle East and West Asia interchangeably, while he refrains from approaching Africa and Oceanic islands including Polynesia within the Orient. In his later analyses, we can see that Weber's traditional and value rational actions are mostly identified with Oriental societies, whereas his goal-instrumental rational actions are identified with Western societies. As Christianity continued the tradition of prophethood, it maintained a dynamism that is not present in Oriental religions. According to Weber, the basic reason that led to the difference between the Orient and the Occident was the need for an irrigation-based agriculture located near water.
