What did the phrase "Iron Curtain" describe?

The phrase "Iron Curtain" describes the ideological barrier that existed between Eastern and Western Europe during the Cold War. Coined by Winston Churchill in a speech in 1946, it symbolized the division of Europe into two separate spheres: the Soviet-controlled Eastern bloc and the democratic Western countries. This division was characterized by stark political, economic, and social differences, with Eastern Europe largely under the influence of the Soviet Union, which promoted communist ideologies, while Western nations favored democratic governance and capitalist economies. The "Iron Curtain" was not a physical structure but rather a metaphorical term representing the lack of communication and the hostility between these two regions, which significantly influenced international relations and conflicts during the Cold War era.