The history of Asia can be seen as the distinct histories of several peripheral coastal regions: East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East (West Asia), linked by the interior mass of the Central Asian steppes.
ðə hˈɪstɚɹi ʌv ˈeɪʒə kæn biː sˈiːn æz ðə dɪstˈɪŋkt hˈɪstɚɹiz ʌv sˈɛvɹəl pɚɹˈɪfɚɹəl kˈoʊstəl ɹˈiːdʒənz: ˈiːst ˈeɪʒə, sˈaʊθ ˈeɪʒə, sˈaʊθiːst ˈeɪʒə ænd ðə mˈɪdəl ˈiːst wˈɛst ˈeɪʒə, lˈɪŋkt baɪ ðɪ ɪntˈɪɹiɚ mˈæs ʌvðə sˈɛntɹəl ˈeɪʒən stˈɛps.