Ideas about the West and the distinction between West and East originated with the   Group of answer choicesSumeriansEgyptiansRomansAncient Greeks

The ideas about the distinction between the West and the East can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. They were among the first to formulate a conceptual divide between different regions, particularly when they encountered other cultures during their conquests and trade. This distinction was often based on cultural, philosophical, and political differences.

1. The Greeks viewed themselves as the epitome of civilization, often contrasting their city-states with what they considered the "barbaric" societies outside their borders, particularly those of the Persians and other Near Eastern cultures.
2. This perspective laid the groundwork for later interpretations of cultural and geographical distinctions between the Western world (Europe and later the Americas) and the Eastern world (Asia and the Middle East).

In summary, although different ancient civilizations may have contributed to the ideas about East and West, it is the Ancient Greeks who notably conceptualized the distinction in a way that influenced subsequent Western thought.