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Asia (/ˈeɪʒə/ ^ⓘ AY-zhə, UK also /ˈeɪʃə/ AY-shə) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which has long been home to the majority of the human population, was the site of many of the first civilisations. Its 4.7 billion people constitute roughly 60% of the world's population.

Asia shares the landmass of Eurasia with Europe, and of Afro-Eurasia with both Europe and Africa. In general terms, it is bounded on the east by the Pacific Ocean, on the south by the Indian Ocean, and on the north by the Arctic Ocean. The border of Asia with Europe is a historical and cultural construct, as there is no clear physical and geographical separation between them. A commonly accepted division places Asia to the east of the Suez Canal separating it from Africa; and to the east of the Turkish straits, the Ural Mountains and Ural River, and to the south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black seas, separating it from Europe.

Since the concept of Asia derives from the term for the eastern region from a European perspective, Asia is the remaining vast area of Eurasia minus Europe. Therefore, Asia is a region where various independent cultures coexist rather than sharing a single culture, and its boundary with Europe is somewhat arbitrary and has moved since its first conception in classical antiquity. The division of Eurasia into two continents reflects East–West cultural differences, some of which vary on a spectrum. (Full article...)

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The Roman–Persian wars, also called the Roman–Iranian wars, took place between the Greco-Roman world and the Iranian world, beginning with the Roman Republic and the Parthian Empire in 54 BC and ending with the Roman Empire (including the Byzantine Empire) and the Sasanian Empire in 628 AD. While the conflict between the two civilizations did involve direct military engagements, a significant role was played by a plethora of vassal kingdoms and allied nomadic nations, which served as buffer states or proxies for either side. Despite nearly seven centuries of hostility, the Roman–Persian wars had an entirely inconclusive outcome, as both the Byzantines and the Sasanians were attacked by the Rashidun Caliphate as part of the early Muslim conquests. The Rashidun offensives resulted in the collapse of the Sasanian Empire and largely confined the Byzantine Empire to Anatolia for the ensuing Arab–Byzantine wars.

Aside from shifts in the north, the Roman–Persian border remained largely stable for the duration of the conflict, albeit subject to an effective tug of war: towns, fortifications, and provinces were continually sacked, captured, destroyed, and traded, but neither side had the logistical strength or manpower to maintain such lengthy campaigns far from their borders, and thus neither could advance too far without risking stretching their frontiers too thin. Both sides did make conquests beyond the border, but in time, the balance was almost always restored. Although initially different in military tactics, the Romans and the Persians gradually adopted from each other, and by the second half of the 6th century, they were similar and evenly matched. (Full article...)

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Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of 1,564,116 square kilometres (603,909 square miles), with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's most sparsely populated sovereign state. Mongolia is the world's largest landlocked country that does not border an inland sea, and much of its area is covered by grassy steppe, with mountains to the north and west and the Gobi Desert to the south. Ulaanbaatar, the capital and largest city, is home to roughly half of the country's population.

The territory of modern-day Mongolia has been ruled by various nomadic empires, including the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, the Rouran, the First Turkic Khaganate, the Second Turkic Khaganate, the Uyghur Khaganate and others. In 1206, Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous land empire in history. His grandson Kublai Khan conquered China proper and established the Yuan dynasty. After the collapse of the Yuan, the Mongols retreated to Mongolia and resumed their earlier pattern of factional conflict, except during the era of Dayan Khan and Tumen Zasagt Khan. (Full article...)

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Zenobia as empress on the obverse of an antoninianus (AD 272)

Septimia Zenobia (Palmyrene Aramaic: 𐡡𐡶𐡦𐡡𐡩‎, Bat-Zabbai; c. 240 – c. 274) was a third-century queen of the Palmyrene Empire in Syria. Many legends surround her ancestry; she was probably not a commoner, and she married the ruler of the city, Odaenathus. Her husband became king in 260, elevating Palmyra to supreme power in the Near East by defeating the Sasanian Empire of Persia and stabilizing the Roman East. After Odaenathus' assassination, Zenobia became the regent of her son Vaballathus and held de facto power throughout his reign.

In 270, Zenobia launched an invasion that brought most of the Roman East under her sway and culminated with the annexation of Egypt. By mid-271 her realm extended from Ancyra, central Anatolia, to Upper Egypt, although she remained nominally subordinate to Rome. However, in reaction to the campaign of the Roman emperor Aurelian in 272, Zenobia declared her son emperor and assumed the title of empress, thus declaring Palmyra's secession from Rome. The Romans were victorious after heavy fighting; the empress was besieged in her capital and captured by Aurelian, who exiled her to Rome, where she spent the remainder of her life. (Full article...)

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General images

The following are images from various Asia-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1The Syriac Orthodox Saint Ahoadamah Church was a 7th-century church building in the city of Tikrit, one of the oldest in the world until its destruction by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant on 25 September 2014. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 2The third Inter-Korean Summit, which was held in 2018, between South Korean president Moon Jae-in and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un. It was a historical event that symbolized the peace of Asia. (from History of Asia)
Image 3Chicken tikka, a well-known dish across the globe, reflects the South Asian cooking style. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 4Gyeonghoeru of Gyeongbokgung, the Joseon dynasty's royal palace. (from History of Asia)
Image 5Some henges at Göbekli Tepe in Turkey were erected as far back as 9600 BC, predating those of Stonehenge, by over seven millennia. (from History of Asia)
Image 6Daian-ji temple at Nara, Japan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 7Badshahi Mosque built under the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore, Pakistan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 8Language families in South Asia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 9Map of Asia for early 20th century (from History of Asia)
Image 10Đại Việt, Champa, Angkor Empire and their neighbours, late 13th century (from History of Asia)
Image 11British troops taking Zhenjiang from Qing troops (from History of Asia)
Image 12Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jeruslam (from Culture of Asia)
Image 13Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Seoul, South Korea (from Culture of Asia)
Image 14A stone image of the Buddha (from Culture of Asia)
Image 15Korean peninsula in 476 AD. There are three kingdoms and Gaya Union in the picture. This picture shows the heyday of Goguryeo (from History of Asia)
Image 16The Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan, which was the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010 (from Asian Century)
Image 17Here a Jesuit, Adam Schall von Bell (1592–1666), is dressed as an official of the Chinese Department of Astronomy. (from History of Asia)
Image 18Borobudur, a Buddhist temple in Indonesia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 19Tang dynasty Chinese poet Li Bai, in a 13th-century depiction by Liang Kai (from Culture of Asia)
Image 20Map of Marco Polo's travels (from History of Asia)
Image 21Angkor Wat, Khmer Empire (from Culture of Asia)
Image 22Deoksugung, the palace where Emperor Gojong established Korean Empire. (from History of Asia)
Image 23Battle of Talas between Tang dynasty and Abbasid Caliphate c. 751 (from History of Asia)
Image 24The Song dynasty and main polities in Asia c. 1200 (from History of Asia)
Image 25East Asian cultural sphere (from Culture of Asia)
Image 26The Delhi Sultanate. (from History of Asia)
Image 27The global contribution to world's GDP by major economies from 1 AD to 2003 AD according to Angus Maddison's estimates. Before 18th century, China and India were the two largest economies by GDP output. (from Asian Century)
Image 28Population concentration and boundaries of the Western Zhou dynasty in China (from History of Asia)
Image 29The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling (from Culture of Asia)
Image 30The Hindu-Buddhist temple of Angkor Wat. (from History of Asia)
Image 31Daily life of people from the Song period at the capital, Bianjing, today's Kaifeng (from History of Asia)
Image 32Dome of the Rock, an Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. (from Culture of Asia)
Image 33Invasions, destruction and possible population movements during the Late Bronze Age collapse, beginning c. 1200 BC (from History of Asia)
Image 34Sculpture of Prince Shōtoku (from History of Asia)
Image 35Map of Asia (from Culture of Asia)
Image 36The Great Wave off Kanagawa, c. 1830 by Hokusai, an example of art flourishing in the Edo Period (from History of Asia)
Image 37Philippine cuisine (from Culture of Asia)
Image 38Byzantine and Sassanian Empires in 600 AD (from History of Asia)
Image 39Robert Clive and Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, 1757 by Francis Hayman (from History of Asia)
Image 40Gojong (1852–1919), the 26th king of Joseon dynasty and the first emperor of Korean Empire. (from History of Asia)
Image 41The Mughal ambassador Khan’Alam in 1618 negotiating with Shah Abbas the Great of Iran. (from History of Asia)
Image 42The Silk Road in Asia (from History of Asia)
Image 43The Taj Mahal, Agra, India (from Culture of Asia)
Image 44A typical example of Dravidian architecture (from Culture of Asia)
Image 45Projected shares of global GDP by region to 2050 (from Asian Century)
Image 46Kabsa also called Majboos, famous in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates (from Culture of Asia)
Image 47A view of the Fort St George in 18th-century Madras. (from History of Asia)
Image 48The Han dynasty and main polities in Asia c. 200 BC (from History of Asia)
Image 49Hinduism expansion in Asia, from its heartland in Indian Subcontinent, to the rest of Asia, especially Southeast Asia, started circa 1st century marked with the establishment of early Hindu settlements and polities in Southeast Asia. (from History of Asia)
Image 50Traditional Rajasthani garments from Jaipur, Rajasthan (from Culture of Asia)
Image 51Indonesian Balinese cuisine (from Culture of Asia)
Image 52The early Muslim conquests, 622–750 (from History of Asia)
Image 53Political map of Asia in 1860 (from History of Asia)
Image 54Sun temple at Konarka, Odisha, India (from Culture of Asia)
Image 55Detail of the Dragon Throne used by the Qianlong Emperor of China, Forbidden City, Qing dynasty. Artifact circulating in U.S. museums on loan from Beijing (from Culture of Asia)
Image 56The First Persian Empire at its greatest extent, c. 500 BC (from History of Asia)
Image 57Detail of Chinese silk from the 4th century BCE. The characteristic trade of silk through the Silk Road connected various regions from China, India, Central Asia, and the Middle East to Europe and Africa. (from History of Asia)
Image 58Map of Vietnam showing the conquest of the south (the Nam tiến, 1069–1757). (from History of Asia)
Image 59Ancient ziggurat, Iraq (from Culture of Asia)
Image 60A Confucian ritual ceremony in Jeju, South Korea (from Culture of Asia)
Image 61Machiya in Heian period (from History of Asia)
Image 62The Russian Znamensky Cathedral in Tyumen built in 1768 (from Culture of Asia)
Image 63The Qing conquest of the Ming and expansion of the empire (from History of Asia)
Image 64Political cartoon depicting the Afghan Emir Sher Ali with the rival "friends" the Russian Bear and British Lion (1878) (from History of Asia)
Image 65The Qing Empire in 1832. (from History of Asia)
Image 66The Grand Mosque in Kuwait City, one of the largest mosques in the region (from Culture of Asia)
Image 67the Goryeo ware, which shows splendid culture of Goryeo in mediaeval Korea. (from History of Asia)
Image 68Balhae in the north, Later Silla in the south (from History of Asia)
Image 69India's middle-class population of 300 million is growing at an annual rate of 5%. Shown here is an upmarket area in South Mumbai. (from Asian Century)

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Bangkok

Credit: Diliff

Bangkok is the capital city of and largest urban area in Thailand.The city's many cultural landmarks and attractions in addition to its nightlife venues has made it synonymous with exoticism. Its rapid modernization, reflected in the cityscape and the urban society, has left untouched the historic Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Vimanmek Palace Complex, hundreds of Buddhist temples, and the city's illegal (but tolerated) red-light districts draw about 10 million international visitors each year, second only to London.

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Did you know...

... that Hong Kong actress and beauty pageant winner Louisa Mak is a Cambridge law graduate?
... that interfaith greetings in Indonesia include phrases from Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism?
... that Singaporean swimmer Marc Tay served in the Gulf War as an eye surgeon?
... that Mohammad Bhar, a Palestinian man with Down syndrome and autism, died following a dog attack in the Gaza Strip during the Israel–Hamas war?
... that North Korean child prodigy Ri Jong-yol defected to South Korea after winning silver at the 2016 International Mathematical Olympiad in Hong Kong?
... that a popular vote declared sobá, an adaption of Okinawa soba introduced by Japanese immigrants, to be the most representative dish of the Brazilian city of Campo Grande?
... that abused Overseas Filipino Workers accused the former chargé d'affaires of the Philippine embassy in Damascus of neglecting them while he was regularly partying with handsome Syrians?
... that Japanese electronic musician Camellia began producing music at the age of ten using his mother's computer?
... that in 2010 the Indonesian National Armed Forces brought a retired brigadier general before a military tribunal over a land dispute?
... that in the 1920s, Australian journalist E. George Marks predicted military conflict in the Pacific between Japan and the United States?

Updated: 21:05, 24 June 2025

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In the news

24 June 2025 – Middle Eastern crisis: Iran–Israel war; Airstrikes during the Iran–Israel war; Israel continues to launch airstrikes on Iran while Iran launches a wave of ballistic missiles at Israel despite the United States claiming a ceasefire had been reached between the warring sides. (Al Jazeera) (The Guardian); Nine people are killed in an Israeli airstrike on residential units in Gilan, Iran. The attack also injured 33 people, including 16 women and children, with five requiring hospital treatment. (Al Jazeera); Four people are killed and 22 others are injured in Beersheba, Southern Israel, after an Iranian missile strikes an apartment block. (The Times of Israel); U.S. president Donald Trump tells reporters at the White House that Israel and Iran "don't know what the fuck they are doing" as both countries continue to launch attacks despite U.S. claims of a ceasefire. (BBC News) (The Independent)

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Major Religions in Asia

Middle East (West Asia)

Central Asia and Caucasus

Indian Subcontinent

Southeast Asia

East Asia

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Selected panorama

Credit: Bluemangoa2z

The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.

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