Literature

• The 7 Continents of the World

  • Asia
  • Africa
  • Europe
  • North America
  • South America
  • Australia
  • Antarctica
• The 7 continents are listed in order of current population
• Political Map of Asia

  • Transcontinental countries are countries with territory in two or more continents
  • Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Egypt are contiguous transcontinental countries
  • Most non-contiguous transcontinental countries are countries with overseas territories
• Asia


  • The world's largest and most diverse continent, occupying the eastern four-fifths of the giant Eurasian landmass
  • Bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Indian to the south, the Red Sea (as well as the inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean—the Mediterranean and the Black) to the southwest, and Europe to the west
  • Total area of 17,226,200 square miles (44,614,000 square km), roughly one-third of the land surface of Earth
• Regions of Asia


  • Central Asia
  • East Asia
  • South Asia
  • Southeast Asia
  • Western Asia
  • North Asia
• Central Asia


  • West of China, south of Russia, and north of Afghanistan
  • Politically divided into five countries (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan)
  • Covers 1,545,741 square miles and has a population of just over 77 million
  • Played an essential role in the transportation of goods between China and Europe during the Silk Road trading era
• The Silk Road


  • International trade routes opened as the Persian Royal Road in the Achaemenid Empire (500-330 B.C.)
  • Began at Susa in the north of Persia (Iran) and went through Asia Minor (Turkey) to the Mediterranean Sea
  • Branched out into side routes, with western routes going to Greece, Rome and Britain and eastern routes crossing into the Indian sub-continent and over into Egypt and the African continent
  • Became the major artery of trade after the Han Dynasty opened it in 130 B.C.
• East Asia


  • Located east of Central Asia, with its eastern border running along the East China Sea
  • Politically divided into eight countries and regions
  • Covers a total area of 4,571,092 square miles and has a population of more than 1.69 billion, representing 22% of the global population and 38% of Asia's total population
  • Geography varies from temperate continental areas to arid deserts to mountainous and coastal regions
  • Home to some of the world's most advanced technologies and economic development
• South Asia


  • Has a peninsula-like shape bordered by the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea
  • Includes the Indian subcontinent and surrounding countries
  • Politically divided into nine autonomous countries
  • Covers roughly two million square miles and has a population of more than 1.99 billion, nearly a quarter of the global population
  • The most densely populated area in the world
• Southeast Asia


  • Located north of Australia, south of East Asia, west of the Pacific Ocean, and east of the Bay of Bengal
  • Encompasses several island and archipelago nations that stretch between the northern and southern hemispheres
  • Politically divided into 15 countries and territories
  • Covers a total area of 1,735,121 square miles and has a population of more than 684 million
  • Characterized by a large number of archipelagos, including the Indonesian Archipelago which is the largest in the world
  • Importance in global trade began during the spice trade, and the region's economy is rapidly developing
• Western Asia


  • Located between Central Asia and Africa, south of Eastern Europe
  • Often referred to as the Middle East, although it geographically excludes the mainland of Egypt
  • Politically divided into 18 states
  • Covers around 2.415 million square miles and has a population of 290 million
• Colonizers of Asia (Southeast Asia)

  • Great Britain
  • France
  • Spain
  • The Netherlands
  • United States
• Colonization of Asia


  Reservoir of raw materials, labor and territory for future settlement
• Europe


  • The western portion of the Eurasian landmass
  • Covers 3,931,000 square miles (7,769,964 square km), about 7% of the world's landmass
  • Home to about 11% of Earth's population, the second most densely populated continent after Asia
  • Comprised of approximately 50 countries and several other territories
  • Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean
  • Has played host to many historic events that have shaped the continent
• Regions of Europe


  • Eastern Europe
  • Western Europe
  • Northern Europe
  • Southern Europe
  • Central Europe (Austria, Czechoslovakia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Switzerland)
• Since the 1990s, Central Europe has been swept up in the process of European integration, with most countries joining the European Union and NATO
• In recent years, the popularity of European integration has dampened and a new wave of nationalism has taken hold in Central Europe, as it has in other parts of the continent
• North America


  • The 3rd largest continent, with a land area of 9,540,000 square miles (23,309,892 square km)
  • Has a population of 608,132,768 (2024)
  • Largest city is Mexico City, Mexico (22,505,000 (2012))
• Regions of Europe


  • Eastern Europe
  • Western Europe
  • Northern Europe
  • Southern Europe
  • Central Europe
• Countries in Central Europe

  • Austria
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Romania
  • Switzerland
• Since the 1990s, Central Europe has been swept up in the process of European integration
• All the countries of present-day Central Europe, excluding Switzerland and Liechtenstein, are part of the European Union (EU)
• Most Central European countries are also part of the NATO military alliance
• In the last few years, the popularity of European integration has dampened, and a new wave of nationalism has taken hold in Central Europe, as it as in other parts of the continent
• Population of North America

  608,132,768 (2024)
• Largest City in North America

  Mexico City, Mexico (22,505,000 (2012))
• The North American continent is the 3rd largest continent
• North America includes the countries of Canada, the United States, Greenland, Mexico, and the Latin American regions that serve as a connection between North and South America
• North America makes up about 17 percent of the world's landmass and is home to about 8 percent of the people
• The earliest human inhabitants in North America were from Asia and crossed into Alaska over the Bering land bridge during an ice age
• The next settlers were of European descent in mid 1600s, starting with the Norse and continuing with the English, Spanish, and French
• North America has a very diverse climate, wildlife, and geography
• North America is responsible for nearly 50% of the world's corn production and 1/5th of the world's wheat production
• North America is an economic juggernaut with the largest GDP per capita of the continents
• Largest City in South America

  São Paulo, Brazil (22,807,000 (2024))
• Countries in South America

  • Argentina
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Ecuador
  • Guyana
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Suriname
  • Uruguay
  • Venezuela
• South America is the southern portion of the larger American continent and is located in the southern hemisphere
• South America is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on its western border and the Atlantic Ocean on its eastern border
• South America is the fourth largest continent
• South America includes the Andes Mountains which comprise the longest range of peaks in the world