original: Prior to World War I, the Near East referred to relatively nearby lands of the Ottoman Empire, Middle East to northwestern South Asia and Central Asia, and Far East for countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean.
simplifications: Before WWI, the Near east was the Ottoman Empire, Middle east, South Asia, and Central Asia.  The Far East were countries along the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Before the World War I, the Near East meant nearby lands of the Ottoman Empire, Middle East to northwestern South Asia and Central Asia, and Far East for countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean. Before WWI, the Near East referred to nearby lands of the Ottoman Empire, Mid East, South Asia, Central Asia and Far East for countries along the west Pacific Ocean and east Indian Ocean. The Near East had many names before WWI. People often broke it down into Middle East and Far East. Before World War I, the term Near East was used for nearby lands of the Ottoman Empire. Middle East was used for northwestern South Asia and Central Asia. Far East was used for for countries along the western Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean. Before World War I, the Near East meant relatively nearby lands. These included the Ottoman Empire, Middle East to northwestern South Asia and Central Asia, and Far East for countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean. Before World War I, the Near East meant the Ottoman Empire and the Far East meant the countries along the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean. Before World War I, the Near East meant the lands of the Ottoman Empire, Middle East to northwestern South and Central Asia, and Far East for countries along the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean. Due to World War I, the Middle East referred to relatively close lands of the Ottoman Empire, the Middle East to the northwest of South Asia and Central Asia, and the Far East to countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean. Before World War 1, the Near East referred to nearby lands of the Ottoman Empire, Middle East to northwestern South and Central Asia and Far East for countries along the western Pacific Ocean and countries along the eastern Indian Ocean.