5 Things You Should Know About: Asia

1. Origin of "Asia"

The origin of the name Asia continues to be a mystery. Many historians believe that the term predates the Greeks who were the first civilization to inhabit and propagate the continent. Linguistically Asia is a female term meaning sunrise. According to Greek myth, Asia was the name of the goddess who gave birth to Atlas, the Titan tasked with holding up the celestial spheres for all of eternity. Asa is also a Phoenician word for "east."

2. The Largest Continent...

Asia is the largest of the world's seven continents. It covers a total land area of about 17,212,000 square miles. This number is approximately 30% of the total surface area of the Earth. Interestingly, due to numerous factors such as culture, politics, and geography, many experts can't agree on the exact perimeters of the Asian continent. This is particularly true when it comes to the west of Asia: it is geographically connected to Europe, leading to this area has becoming known as Eurasia. 

5. The Oldest Civilizations

In today's busy global community it's easy to forget that Asia was the birthplace of some of the world's oldest civilizations. These include the oldest known civilization: the Sumers, who lived in Mesopotamia (the present-day southern portion of Iraq) dating back some 6,000 years. Other such ancient communities include India's Indus Valley Civilization. Most historians, archeologists, and scholars all agree that the world's very first human civilization was formed in what has been referred to as the "cradle of civilization" in Asia's Tigris Euphrates region which is presently home to the modern countries of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and portions of Syria.

With such an expansive space and massive population, Asia is the most diverse region in the world. Brimming with history, breathtaking sights, and cultures deeply rooted in tradition and spirituality, there is so much to see, learn and discover about Asia.