WEBEtymology Ptolemy's Asia The term "Asia" is believed to originate in the Bronze Age placename Assuwa (Hittite: 𒀸𒋗𒉿, romanized: aš-šu-wa) which originally referred only to a portion of northwestern Anatolia.The term appears in Hittite records recounting how a confederation of Assuwan states including Troy unsuccessfully rebelled against the …