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How did the literature of Asia and Africa evolved throughout the centuries?

Gregg Leverton

Throughout history, the literature of Asia and Africa has evolved and changed in many ways. Literature is all the writing that people create, like stories, poems, and books.

In ancient times, people wrote stories and poems that often told tales of heroic battles and brave warriors. These stories were written by hand on scrolls made of materials like papyrus, bamboo, and palm leaves.

Over time, the literature of Asia and Africa started to change as people began to use new forms of writing and invented new types of stories. One famous example of this is the epic poem, The Odyssey, which tells the story of a Greek hero named Odysseus and his long journey home after fighting in the Trojan War.

In Asia, the development of writing systems like Chinese characters and Sanskrit allowed people to write down their stories and poems for the very first time. The Chinese created huge, epic novels like Journey to the West, which tells the tale of a monkey who goes on a journey to find Buddhist scriptures.

In Africa, the oral tradition was the most important way of passing down stories through generations. Griots, who were storytellers and historians, would transmit their stories from one person to another in a tradition that lasted for centuries. Eventually, though, written literature did begin to appear, like the novel Things Fall Apart by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe, which tells the story of a warrior named Okonkwo and his struggle in colonial Africa.

Today, the literature of Asia and Africa continues to thrive, with writers all over the world creating new and exciting stories that are read and loved by people of all ages. Some famous contemporary authors include Haruki Murakami from Japan and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie from Nigeria.

In conclusion, the literature of Asia and Africa has evolved over time, and continues to change and grow. From storytellers passing tales down through generations by word of mouth, to epic novels and contemporary works of fiction, the literature of these great continents has played and will always play a vital role in our world's history.