Search

Rivers and major settlements are the main feature of this colourful early map of Asia. Italian text gives further details about the region.

The southern coast of Java ('Iava Maior') on this map is represented by a dotted line, indicating that the exact coastline was unknown at this time. French text on the reverse describes the geography, crops, animals etc. of the Maluku Islands.

The outline of the island of New Guinea is very vague on this early 17th century map of Southeast Asia. The cartouche is decorated with two figures of Asian warriors: one holds a spear, the other a sword. There are also drawings of mermaids.

This mid-17th century Italian map shows the eastern islands of maritime Southeast Asia. Text on the map refers to winds (‘Venti’), currents (‘Corrente’) and air temperature (‘L'Aria è Calda e Humida [The air is hot and humid]’).

This map shows the Dutch colonial possessions in the East Indies in the mid-19th century. The text provides great detail about the people, religion, crops, animals, geography and administration of the Dutch East Indies.

Map of the Asian colonial possessions of the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies), with an inset of the heights of some of the region’s mountains. A note describes the average temperature, barometer reading and magnetic declination in Batavia at the time.

Map of the Asian colonial possessions of the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies), with an inset of the heights of some of the region’s mountains. A note describes the average temperature, barometer reading and magnetic declination in Batavia at the time.

Map of the Asian colonial possessions of the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies), with an inset of the heights of some of the region’s mountains. A note describes the average temperature, barometer reading and magnetic declination in Batavia at the time.

Map of the Asian colonial possessions of the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies), with an inset of the heights of some of the region’s mountains. A note describes the average temperature, barometer reading and magnetic declination in Batavia at the time.

Map of the Asian colonial possessions of the Netherlands (Dutch East Indies), with an inset of the heights of some of the region’s mountains. A note describes the average temperature, barometer reading and magnetic declination in Batavia at the time.

A world map, including Southeast Asia, showing isothermal lines—lines that join locations of the same temperature—of annual mean temperature. There are also isobars (lines that join locations of the same barometric pressure).

Chart of the Indian Ocean, showing climate and weather-related data, including around the seas and straits of Southeast Asia where trade routes are marked, along with monsoon and typhoon regions, and currents during the different monsoon seasons.