Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition. It covers 8.7 percent of the Earth's total surface area, or 29.8 percent of its land area, and it contains more than 60 percent of the world's human population.

Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Africa-Eurasia – with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe – lying east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains, and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas.

Etymology

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The word Asia entered English, via Latin, from Ancient Greek Ασία (Asia; see also List of traditional Greek place names). This name is first attested in Herodotus (about 440 BC), where it refers to Asia Minor; or, for the purposes of describing the Persian Wars, to the Persian Empire, in contrast to Greece and Egypt. Herodotus comments that he is puzzled as to why three different women's names are used to describe a single land mass (Europa, Asia and Libya, referring to Africa), stating that most Greeks assumed that Asia was named after the wife of Prometheus but that the Lydians say it was named after Asias, son of Cotys who passed the name on to a tribe in Sardis.

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Tonight: Interested in East Asia STINT? Come 2 the private dining room @ bottom of Lenoir @ 6pm 4 info/dinner. But don't forget Dinner for 8
unccornerstone (UNC Cornerstone) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:34 -0000
Tonight: Interested in East Asia STINT? Come 2 the private dining room @ bottom of Lenoir @ 6pm 4 info/dinner. But don't forget Dinner for 8
RT - @lovecambodia Cambodia aims to raise AIDS/HIV awareness among drivers - Channel News Asia http://bit.ly/1YgJT
Eyes4Cambodia (EYES 4 CAMBODIA) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:31 -0000
RT - @lovecambodia Cambodia aims to raise AIDS/HIV awareness among drivers - Channel News Asia http://bit.ly/1YgJT
Later on RN at 5am [Fri] Asia Pacific: News,analysis of events in our region from key newsmakers http://sn.im/rn-api
whats_on_rn (What's on RN) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:11 -0000
Later on RN at 5am [Fri] Asia Pacific: News,analysis of events in our region from key newsmakers http://sn.im/rn-api
trying to manage calendar - good news only two more trips this year, one cross country, one to Asia. Deep breath.
p2173 (Lucy Bernholz) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:00:07 -0000
trying to manage calendar - good news only two more trips this year, one cross country, one to Asia. Deep breath.
#HappyBirthdayKevin | ooi, eu preciso saber qual a matéria, estudar shauh 'Democracia e populismo', 'África e Ásia', 'Oriente Médio'...
skarlethborges (skarleth borges) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:59:28 -0000
#HappyBirthdayKevin | ooi, eu preciso saber qual a matéria, estudar shauh 'Democracia e populismo', 'África e Ásia', 'Oriente Médio'...
Asia must adapt to 'new world' despite recovery: IMF | France 24 http://tinyurl.com/yg7dv97
letha3bgzw (Letha Wall) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:58:29 -0000
Asia must adapt to 'new world' despite recovery: IMF | France 24 http://tinyurl.com/yg7dv97

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