Search

This unusual map of Batavia in the late 18th century shows the port city as seen when approaching from the sea. The castle is depicted prominently as a three-dimensional drawing, with the rest of the city behind more flat like a plan.

Amongst the mountains and jungles of mid-18th century Bali, this map shows three royal palaces, walled encampments, and seven Buddhist temples (or ‘stupa’) on the east coast. Inset illustrations depict a palace and a temple in detail.

This colourful mid-18th century plan of the city of Amboine (Ambon, capital of Ambon Island, in the Maluku Islands, Indonesia) has a detailed legend identifying locations within the city and the surrounding mountains. The text is in French and Dutch.

This elaborately illustrated map of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans includes the eastern islands of Southeast Asia. The routes of five expeditions west across the Pacific are marked, including that of Ferdinand Magellan to the Philippines in 1520.

Map of the Indian Ocean dominated by a rhumbline network—a web of interconnected lines used to help plot routes—with a compass rose at the centre. At the top there are (incomplete) drawings of people with text in Dutch, French, English and Spanish.

A map of the bay of the port city of Batavia (Jakarta). To aid navigation, a rhumbline network (the web of interconnected lines), bathymetry (sea depth), and small islands, shoals and reefs are marked. An inset map shows the city in more detail.

A map of Java with mountains, jungles, animals and crops. Bathymetry (sea depth) is marked, including on an inset map of Batavia harbour. Illustrations include Batavia Castle, and a lion—representing Belgium—receiving tribute and enslaving locals.

Map of the Siamese city of Ayutthaya (‘Judia’) represented pictorially, surrounded by rivers and with a grid-like layout of roads, rivers and buildings. The city existed from 1350 until 1767 when it was destroyed by an invading Burmese force.

Map of the Me-nam River (Chao Phraya River) with the city of Ayutthaya (labelled ‘Siri India’) in the centre. Its mouth at the Gulf of Thailand is to the left. Over 100 buildings, towns and other places are shown pictorially and listed in the legend.

Map of the Me-nam River (Chao Phraya River) with the city of Ayutthaya (labelled ‘Siri India’) in the centre. Its mouth at the Gulf of Thailand is to the left. Over 100 buildings, towns and other places are shown pictorially and listed in the legend.

Map of the Me-nam River (Chao Phraya River) with the city of Ayutthaya (labelled ‘Siri India’) in the centre. Its mouth at the Gulf of Thailand is to the left. Over 100 buildings, towns and other places are shown pictorially and listed in the legend.

Map of the Siamese city of Ayutthaya (‘Judia’) represented pictorially, surrounded by rivers and with a grid-like layout of roads, rivers and buildings. The city existed from 1350 until 1767 when it was destroyed by an invading Burmese force.