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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radkamrin (Austina Thornley) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:25:19 -0000
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radkamrin (Austina Thornley) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:25:18 -0000
Asia Vacation Specials: Dubai & Maldives Vacation 10 nights $1759: Maldives Vacation Package Includes 3 nights wit... http://bit.ly/51TOcX
Asia's Top 10 Most Unique Deformities http://is.gd/5rEuk
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Asia's Top 10 Most Unique Deformities http://is.gd/5rEuk
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GamerInvest (Justin Alderman) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 20:19:59 -0000
GCA Games Convention Asia 2010 Extended and Conference Day added http://bit.ly/6MRjrb
@findumami hot, sour, salty, sweet: a culinary journey through SoEast Asia by J Alford. I keep meaning to get this book - it is GORGEOUS!
bitterbiscuit (eM) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:46:14 -0000
@findumami hot, sour, salty, sweet: a culinary journey through SoEast Asia by J Alford. I keep meaning to get this book - it is GORGEOUS!
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rikkisawhney (Rikki Sawhney) Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:24:12 -0000
[bnet] Asia's LNG Appetite: Chevron's Share of Gorgon Gas Going Fast http://ow.ly/16aGgq

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