Asia

Asia is the largest continent in the world, both in size and in the number of people living there. It covers more than 44 million square kilometres, which is about 30% of Earth's land. Many people have lived in Asia for thousands of years, and some of the world's earliest civilisations began there. Today, about 4.7 billion people call Asia home — that's almost 60% of all people on Earth.

Asia shares its land with Europe and Africa, forming a large area called Afro-Eurasia. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south, and the Arctic Ocean to the north. The line that separates Asia from Europe isn’t always clear. Some people use places like the Suez Canal, the Turkish straits, the Ural Mountains, and the Caucasus Mountains to mark the border.

Asia has always been important for trade and culture. Long ago, China and India had very powerful economies, and routes like the Silk Road helped connect different parts of the continent. Many major religions, such as Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam, began in Asia. The landscapes here are very different, from tropical jungles and hot deserts to forests and cold polar areas.

Etymology

The name "Asia" likely comes from an old place called Assuwa. It was in a part of Anatolia. The Hittite people wrote about this area. The writer Herodotus used "Asia" to talk about Anatolia and the lands ruled by the Achaemenid Empire. Different cultures had their own ideas about the name, like stories from Greek mythology. Later, the Romans used "Asia" for a bigger area. Finally, it meant the whole continent.

Definition

Further information on Asian borders: Geography of Asia § Boundary, Boundaries between the continents, List of transcontinental countries § Asia and Europe, and Copenhagen criteria

The idea of where Asia begins and ends has changed over time. Ancient thinkers suggested different places for the boundary between Asia and Europe.

Today, the border between Asia and Europe is usually the Ural Mountains and the Ural River. The line between Asia and Africa is marked by the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, making Egypt a country in both Asia and Africa. The boundary with Oceania is generally placed in the Indonesian Archipelago.

The border between Asia and North America is formed by the Bering Strait and Bering Sea, separating Russia from the United States. The Diomede Islands lie in this strait, with one island belonging to Russia and the other to the United States.

History

Main article: History of Asia

Asia has a rich and ancient history. About 1.8 million years ago, early humans known as Homo erectus left Africa and lived in parts of East and Southeast Asia. Later, modern humans, or Homo sapiens, arrived in South Asia around 60,000 years ago. They met and mixed with an ancient human group called Denisovans in Southeast Asia.

In ancient times, important civilizations grew along river valleys in places like Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and the Yellow River. These early societies developed useful technologies such as mathematics and the wheel. They built cities and empires. Nomads on horses from the steppes could travel across much of Asia and sometimes influenced these areas.

During the Middle Ages, the Islamic Caliphate spread across West Asia and parts of South and Central Asia. Later, the Mongol Empire conquered much of Asia in the 13th century. A serious disease began in central Asia and spread along trade routes.

In more recent times, European explorers found new sea routes to Asia. This led to increased European influence. Empires such as the British, Dutch, and French controlled many parts of Asia. Japan also became a powerful nation in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After World War II, many Asian countries gained independence from colonial rule. Today, nations like China and India are major global economies. Others continue to develop and face their own challenges.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Asia

See also: Category:Biota of Asia

Asia is the largest continent on Earth. It covers a big part of the world's land and has the longest coastline. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Suez Canal and Ural Mountains in the west.

Many famous natural places are in Asia, such as the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, the Himalayas – the tallest mountains in the world – and the Yangtze River, the longest river in China.

Asia has many different climates. Some places, like Siberia, are very cold. Others, like parts of India and Southeast Asia, are very hot and wet. The monsoon brings rain to some areas each summer, while other parts stay dry most of the year.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Asia

See also: List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia

Some countries in Asia, like Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, have democratic governments. These nations value fair elections and the rights of their people.

List of states and territories

Main article: List of sovereign states and dependent territories in Asia

Asia has many countries. Some countries are fully recognized everywhere in the world. Others are only partly recognized. These partly recognized countries are not members of the UN, although Palestine has a special status called observer state status.

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Asia, List of Asian countries by GDP, List of countries in Asia-Pacific by GDP (nominal), and List of Asian and Pacific countries by GDP (PPP)

Asia has the biggest economy of all the continents. Countries such as China, India, and Japan are very important to the world’s economy. Many parts of Asia have grown fast, especially in the last few decades. The continent has many natural resources and is a key place for making things and creating new technology.

Asia uses a lot of energy, mostly from fossil fuels. But it is also a leader in making new renewable energy sources, like wind and solar power. The region is very important for world trade, with many products moving through its ports and cities.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Asia

See also: List of Asian countries by population and List of Asian countries by life expectancy

East Asia has improved a lot in the last 40 years. China has become very wealthy, with its income growing 21 times since 1970, helping many people live better lives. Nepal has also improved in health and education, with life expectancy and school enrollment increasing a lot.

Languages

Main article: Languages of Asia

Asia has thousands of languages. Countries like Indonesia, India, and the Philippines each have hundreds of languages spoken. China also has many different languages and dialects.

Religions

See also: Eastern philosophy, Religion in Asia, and List of Asian mythologies

Many of the world's major religions began in Asia, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Asia also has many myths, with stories like the Great Flood found in different cultures.

Abrahamic

See also: Christianity in Asia and Islam in Asia

The Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Druze faith, and Baháʼí Faith—began in West Asia. Judaism is mainly practiced in Israel today. Christianity is common in Asia, especially in the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Armenia, and Georgia. Islam, which began in what is now Saudi Arabia, is the largest religion in Asia, with countries like Indonesia, Pakistan, and India having many Muslim people.

Indian and East Asian religions

See also: Eastern religions

Religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism began in India. In East Asia, Confucianism, Taoism, and Zen Buddhism developed. Today, Hinduism is strongest in India and Nepal, while Buddhism is practiced in countries like Thailand, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Other religions such as Jainism, Sikhism, Confucianism, and Taoism also have followers across Asia.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Asia

The culture of Asia is a rich mix of traditions and customs from many different people across the continent. Asia has six main areas: Central Asia, East Asia, North Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia. These areas share similar cultures, languages, and beliefs.

West Asia, also called the Middle East, has ancient roots from places like the Fertile Crescent and Mesopotamia. Many important cultures and religions began here, such as the Persian, Arab, and Ottoman empires, along with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Asia is also home to many Nobel Prize winners. For example, Rabindranath Tagore, from India, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. Other winners come from Japan, China, and South Korea. The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to people like Mother Teresa from India and Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan for their work for peace and education.