Asiaball

Asiaball (/ˈeɪʒə, ˈeɪʃə/ (listen)) is Earthball's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the Eastern and Northern Hemispheres. It shares the continental landmass of Eurasiaball with the continent of Europeball, and the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasiaball with Africaball and Europeball. Asiaball covers an area of 44,579,000 square kilometres (17,212,000 sq mi), about 30% of Earthball's total land area and 8.7% of the Earthball'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 civilizations. Its 4.5 billion people (as of June 2019) constitute roughly 60% of the world's population.

In general terms, Asiaball 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 Asiaball with Europeball is a historical and cultural construct, as there is no clear physical and geographical separation between them. It is somewhat arbitrary and has moved since its first conception in classical antiquity. The division of Eurasiaball into two continents reflects East–West cultural, linguistic, and ethnic differences, some of which vary on a spectrum rather than with a sharp dividing line. The most commonly accepted boundaries place Asiaball to the east of the Suez Canal separating it from Africaball; 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 Europeball.

Chinaball and Indiaball alternated in being the largest economies in the world from 1 to 1800 CE. Chinaball was a major economic power and attracted many to the east, and for many the legendary wealth and prosperity of the ancient culture of Indiaball personified Asiaball, attracting European commerce, exploration and colonialism. The accidental discovery of a trans-Atlantic route from Europeball to Americaball by Columbus while in search for a route to Indiaball demonstrates this deep fascination. The Silk Road became the main east–west trading route in the Asian hinterlands while the Straits of Malacca stood as a major sea route. Asiaball has exhibited economic dynamism (particularly East Asiaball) as well as robust population growth during the 20th century, but overall population growth has since fallen. Asiaball was the birthplace of most of the world's mainstream religions including Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, as well as many other religions.

Given its size and diversity, the concept of Asiaball—a name dating back to classical antiquity—may actually have more to do with human geography than physical geography. Asiaball varies greatly across and within its regions with regard to ethnic groups, cultures, environments, economics, historical ties and government systems. It also has a mix of many different climates ranging from the equatorial south via the hot desert in the Middle Eastball, temperate areas in the east and the continental centre to vast subarctic and polar areas in Siberiaball.