Asia happens to be the largest and most populous continent in the international arena. For that reason it covers an area that is equivalent to 8.6% of the total surface area of the globe or 29.9% of its land area. On the other hand the total number of human population that dwells in this part of the world is over 4 billion. This indicates that more than 60% of the world's current population resides in the continent of Asia.
The geographical position of Asia is radically distinctive and without equal. It is located mainly in the eastern and northern hemispheres and is determined as a part of the landmass of Eurasia. However the western part of Eurasia is occupied by Europe and lies to the east of the Suez Canal, east of the Ural Mountains and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas. The Pacific Ocean forms the boundary of Asia on the east while the Indian Ocean forms the boundary of Asia on the south. In the north it is bounded by the Arctic Ocean.
It is true that the word “Asia” is in essence a toponym that dates back to classical antiquity. In respect of size and diversity, according to the prudence of an assortment of researchers, it is better to determine the nature of Asia as a cultural concept that includes a number of regions along with peoples than a homogeneous physical entity.
There are different notions of the origin of the word “Asia”. It is said that it originated from the ancient Greek word "Ἀσία" and is credited to Herodotus for this coinage then. Again, it is learnt that Homer, even before Herodotus was concerned of a Trojan ally named Asios. What’s more it is assumed that the Greek language term may be derived from Assuwa, which is a 14th century BCE confederation of states in Western Anatolia.
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