Asia is the World’s largest continent; at 17 million square miles, stretching across forty-nine countries, it occupies around one-third of the Earth’s landmass. It reaches from the Suez Canal to the Pacific, Indian, and Arctic oceans, and has a population of more than 4.5 billion people. Some of the most advanced countries in Asia include India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia.
History
The history and culture of Asia are rich and complex, with the ancient dynasties of China, the majesty of India, the emperors of Japan, and the mighty legacy of the Mongols and Genghis Khan.
It has a long-standing connection to Europe through the importance of the ‘Silk Road’ trading route that ran between the continents in medieval times. The importance of this trade led Christopher Columbus on his voyage in 1492 to find an easier passage by sea, a journey that would lead to his accidental discovery of the Americas.
Much of Asia’s history can be seen in the many monuments and feats of engineering that still adorn its countries. The most famous of these can be said to be The Great Wall of China, which cuts a course through the country some 13,000 miles long.
Of the New 7 Wonders of the World chosen in 2000, three of them were to be found in Asia: the white marble mausoleum of the Taj Mahal in India; the ancient city of Petra in Jordan; and, of course, The Great Wall of China.
Culture
In line with its history, Asia also has a wide and varied culture, with the major countries each having their own distinct styles of art, architecture, and cuisine, much of which is influenced by the major religions of Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.
Much of Asia’s culture has found its way to every part of the World, with food, in particular, becoming popular, with curries, kebabs, sweet and sour, and noodles now staples of diets around the World, and let’s not forget what may be Asia’s most important contribution to Western life, the cup of tea.
The migration of Asians to South America over the last couple of centuries has also led to an influence upon countries such as Brazil and Argentina.
One of the most influential elements of Asian culture that has spread across the World is the many forms of martial arts. Styles such as Karate, Taekwondo, Judo, and many more have had a huge influence on every part of the World, and have become integrated into such things as Hollywood movies and dance culture.
The Natural World
Asia has a varied ecosystem and is rich in natural history, giving a home to a wide variety of animal life.
There are many species indigenous to Asia; the giant panda, red panda, tiger, Asian elephant, Komodo dragon, and many more, many of which have been affected by diminishing habitats and destruction of food sources where they live, caused by industrial and agricultural expansion.
The sheer size of the Asian continent means that it has a climate and ecosystem as varied as its culture. Many different conditions can be found in Asia, with desert, jungle, arctic, mountain, and temperate climates all being present.
Tropical rainforests can be found in the reaches of southern Asia, providing refuge to a wide range of primates, such as orangutans, gibbons, langurs, and more.
Many parts of Asia are dominated by desert climates, particularly in the Middle East. Two of the largest deserts in the World can be found on the continent; the Arabian desert, and the Gobi Desert, the former being the largest in Asia, covering an area of over 900,000 square miles.
Asia has many mountain ranges spread across its countries, with the Kunlun Mountains in Tibet being the longest on the continent. Towering above them all is the Himalayas, the tallest mountain range in the World, which also contains the lofty tower of Mount Everest, Earth’s highest peak.