East is a fundamental cardinal direction, opposite West, and is famously the direction from which the Sun appears to rise on Earth. Its etymology stems from Old English "ēast" and Proto-Germanic "*aus-to-," meaning "dawn" or "to shine," a linguistic connection shared with words like Latin "aurora" and possibly linked to the Germanic goddess Eostre. On maps, East is conventionally to the right, corresponding to a 90° bearing on a compass, though its representation can differ for planets with retrograde rotation. Culturally, East holds deep significance; it is the traditional direction for prayer in many religions, including Christianity, whose churches often face eastward, associating it with humanity's original home. Historically known as the "Orient," East refers to the Eastern world, largely encompassing Asia (divided into the Far, Middle, and Near East), a classification rooted in European perspective but denoting regions geographically east of the continent. Intriguingly, some studies suggest that in Northern Hemisphere cities, the "east end" is often poorer due to prevailing westerly winds.