ASIA

The world’s largest and most diverse continent

ASIA: THE LARGEST CONTINENT IN
THE WORLD
The name of the Asia is
ancient, and its origin has
been variously explained.
The Greeks used it to
designate the lands situated
to the east of their
homeland. It is believed that
the name may be derived
from the Assyrian word asu,
meaning “east.”
48 COUNTRIES IN ASIA
1. China 1. Afghanistan 1. Tajikistan
2. India 2. Saudi Arabia 2. Israel
3. Indonesia 3. Uzbekistan 3. Laos
4. Pakistan 4. Malaysia 4. Kyrgyzstan
5. Bangladesh 5. Nepal 5. Lebanon
6. Japan 6. Yemen 6. Turkmenistan
7. Philippines 7. North Korea 7. Singapore
8. Vietnam 8. Sri Lanka 8. State of Palestine
9. Turkey 9. Kazakhstan 9. Oman
10. Iran 10. Syria 10. Kuwait
11. Thailand 11. Cambodia 11. Georgia
12. Myanmar 12. Jordan
40. Mongolia
41. Armenia
42. Qatar
43. Bahrain
44. Timor-Leste
45. Cyprus
46. Bhutan
47. Maldives
48. Brunei
HISTORY OF ASIA (SCIENTIFIC HISTORY)
When the great land masses of Africa and India collide with 
Europe and Asia, about 100 million years ago, they cause the crust of the
earth to crumple upwards in a long almost continuous ridge of high
ground - from the Alps, through Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan to the
Himalayas. This barrier will have a profound influence on human
history. 

To the south and east of the mountain range are various fertile regions,
watered by great rivers flowing from the mountains. By contrast, north
of the mountain range is a continuous strip of less fertile grasslands - the
steppes, on which a horseman can ride almost without interruption from
Mongolia to Moscow.
• This unbroken stretch of land north of the mountains,
reaching from the Pacific in the east to the Atlantic in the
west, means that the boundary between Asia and Europe is a
somewhat vague concept. Indeed Europe is really the
western peninsula of the much larger mass of Asia. 
 HISTORY OF ASIA

Asia is the birthplace of human civilization. Forefathers of Asian

lived and multiplied in the vast land a long time ago
All global regions were born in Asia including Christianity,
Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism. Before the Industrial Revolution in the
18th century, as the world economic center was in Asia, most of human
scientific, technologic, literature and artistic achievement were
produced in Asia. Asian civilization, especially Chinese, Arabic and
Indian culture have a huge impact on world civilization.
 Another possible explanation is that it was originally a
local name given to the plains of Ephesus, which ancient
Greeks and Romans extended to refer first to Anatolia
(contemporary Asia Minor, which is the western extreme of
mainland Asia), and then to the known world east of the
Mediterranean Sea. When Western explorers reached South
and East Asia in early modern times, they extended that
label to the whole of the immense landmass.
The total area of Asia, including Asian Russia (with the
Caucasian isthmus) but excluding the island of New Guinea,
amounts to some 17,226,200 square miles (44,614,000 square
km), roughly one-third of the land surface of Earth.
CULTURE OF ASIA
The culture of Asia encompasses the collective and diverse customs and
traditions of art, architecture, music, literature, lifestyle, philosophy, politics
and religion that have been practiced and maintained by the numerous
ethnic groups of the continent of Asia since prehistory.

Japan Philippines
Laos India
ASIAN LITERATURE
Asian literature refers to the literature that was written over a period
of thousands of years, in a variety of countries in Asia. Asian literature
encompasses East Asian literature that includes Chinese, Japanese and
Korean literature; Central Asian literature comprising of Bengali,
Indian, Pakistani and Tamil literature; West Asian Literature that
covers Arabic literature, Persian literature and Turkish literature and
South East Asian Literature that is comprised of literature of the
Philippines.
The study of the massive amount of Asian literature as a whole requires
the aggregation of literature under specific headings. Asian literature
can be divided into a host of different labels, categorized according to
religion, zone, region, ethnic group, literary genre, historical perspective
or language of origin.
Though throughout the centuries a vast
amount of Asian literature has been
written, most of Asian literature can be
broadly categorized as lyric, drama or
narrative. The literary type of Asian
writing was usually determined by the
surrounding culture of the time and
often expresses the ideologies prevalent
in the era.
Some researchers choose a
straightforward division of Asian
literature, categorizing the mass of
literature under Chinese, Japanese and
Indian literature based on the longevity
and influence of the literary traditions of
these countries.
 The islands—including Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Sakhalin and other
islands of Asian Russia, Sri Lanka, Cyprus, and numerous smaller islands—together
constitute 1,240,000 square miles (3,210,000 square km), about 7 percent of the total.
• How many people are in Asia?
-4.463 billion (2016)
• What is the climate in Asia?
- The Southern sections of Asia are mild to hot, while far northeastern areas such
as Siberia are very cold. East Asia has a temperate climate.
• How many country are in Asia?
-48 countries
Asia is subdivided into 48 countries, three of them (Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkey)
having part of their land in Europe. Asia has extremely diverse climates and
geographic features.
ARE YOU EXCITED TO TRAVEL ASIA?

Let’
s Go
!
OUR FIRST DESTINATION IS----

Thailand
SAWAS
DE E
!
(hello!)
THAILAND Thailand,
•  
country located in the
centre of mainland 
Southeast Asia. Located wholly
within the tropics, Thailand 
encompasses divers ecosystems,
including the hilly forested areas
of the northern frontier, the
fertile rice fields of the central
plains, the broad plateau of the
northeast, and the rugged coasts
along the narrow southern
peninsula.
• CAPITAL: BANGKOK
• OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: THAI
• SPOKEN LANGUAGES: - ISAN,
KAM MUEANG, PAK TAI
• RELIGION: - BUDDHISM,
-ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY,-
HINDUISM
• GOVERNMENT: UNITARY
PARLIAMENTARY
CONSTITUTIONAL
MONARCHY
• CURRENCY: BAHT
HISTORY OF THAILAND
Nanchao Period (650 - 1250 AD): After founding a Thai kingdom in Southern China, the
Thai people migrated further south where they settled on the Central Plain under the rule of
the Khmer Empire. The independent Thai state of Sukhothai was founded in approximately
1238 AD.

Sukhothai Period (1238 - 1378 AD): Thai history's 'golden era', the 13th Century was a
time when the Thais became a powerful force in independence and forged an ideal state
governed by kind rulers. However, the more powerful Ayutthaya asserted itself over
Sukhothai in 1350.
Ayutthaya Period (1350 - 1767 AD): Reverting back to Khmer principles, Ayutthaya gained
more power over its sovereigns which saw conflict between neighbouring principalities.
After diplomatic relations began in the 17th Century, the Burmese invaded in 1767,
capturing Ayutthaya. Although, control didn't last for long.
THON BURI PERIOD (1767 - 1772 AD): FEARING ANOTHER ATTACK,
AYUTTHAYA'S CAPITAL WAS TRANSFERRED TO A SITE CLOSER TO THE SEA TO
FACILITATE DEFENCE, PROCUREMENT AND FOREIGN TRADE. A NEW CAPITAL
WAS ESTABLISHED IN THON BURI AND RULERS WERE TOUGH, HOWEVER, THE
KINGDOM DISINTEGRATED QUICKLY DUE TO A LACK OF AUTHORITY.

RATTANAKOSIN PERIOD (1782 - THE PRESENT): A NEW RULER THEN

TRANSFERRED THE CAPITAL TO BANGKOK AND ESTABLISHED THE GRAND
PALACE. FURTHER RULERS EMPLOYED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC REFORM,
RESTORING RELATIONSHIPS WITH SURROUNDING PROVINCES, WESTERN
NATIONS AND TRADE WITH CHINA AND ENDING EUROPEAN TREATIES,
ESTABLISHING MODERN THAILAND AND AVOIDING COLONISATION. FROM
1869-1910 SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED, BY 1925 EDUCATIONAL REFORMS HAD
BEEN INTRODUCED AND IN 1939 THAILAND BECAME A DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENT.
CULTUR
E
 An enchanting archipelago brimming with cultural history,
Thailand is steeped in rich tradition and spirituality that is heavily
influenced by ethnic groups from India, Cambodia, China and
Southeast Asia. Important to national identity, Theravada Buddhism is
the national religion and includes Hindu spirituality such as
worshiping ancestors and animism.
Thailand has unique cultural norms and etiquette that tourists may
be unaware of. For example, pointing with your feet or touching a
person's head are taboos in Thailand as the feet are considered the
dirtiest body part while the head is most sacred. It is also important to
remove your shoes when visiting a temple or entering someone's
home.
21ST LITERARY
TEXT
ROSSANEE
NURFARIDA
Rosannee Nurfarida was
born in Thailand’s so-
called “Deep South”. Her
first collection of poetry
‘Far Away From Our Own
Homes’ was a finalist for
the 2016 South East Asian
Writers Award.
 Not only does Nurfarida’s Muslim hijab standout in thailand, a
country made up predominantly of buddihists. Her poetry also tacks
a daring course, pointing out how religion can divide the Thai state,
communities, and lovers. While most Thai poets have been men
employing strict rhythmic structures in their poetry, Ms. Nurfarida
words express a modern women perspective composed in free verse.