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Early map by Giovanni Antonio Magini, based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. It is difficult to pinpoint exact locations, but the area labelled ‘India Extra Ganges [India beyond the Ganges]’ could include some of modern Myanmar.

A map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

A map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

This early map of Sumatra—referred to in the accompanying French text as ‘Isle de la Taprobane’—is covered with illustrations of people working on the land, and with elephants and camels. Villages, mountains, rivers and wild animals are also shown.

Mid-16th century map by Girolamo Ruscelli, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. It is difficult to pinpoint exact locations, but the Malay Peninsula is recognisable. Italian text on the reverse describes the region.

South is orientated towards the top of this map, with maritime Southeast Asia in the upper half and the mainland below. Top right is Java (‘Iava Magiore [Java Major]’); Borneo is labelled ‘Iava Menore [Java Minor]’. Ships and sea monsters are at sea.

Mid-16th century map by Girolamo Ruscelli, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. It is difficult to pinpoint exact locations, but the Malay Peninsula is recognisable. Italian text on the reverse describes the region.

Taken from Benedetto Bordone's ‘Isolario [The Book of Islands]’, these pages contain two maps: one of Sumatra (‘Iaua Minore’), and one of a group of five unknown islands (Locaz is thought to possibly be Thailand).

This 1550 map by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. There are many inaccuracies, especially in scale and the locations of mountain ranges, but the region is recognisable.

Early map by Sebastian Münster, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy, featuring strange deformed monsters, including headless men with faces on their torsos, a man with a dog’s head, and a mythical race of cannibals (‘Anthropophagi’).

Early map by Sebastian Münster, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. The Malay Peninsula—labelled ‘Aurea Chersonesus [Golden Chersonese]’—is recognisable. An illustration shows the local animals: a tiger, cockerels and a white parrot.

This 1540 map by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. On the reverse, there is Latin text giving details of the area, including crops grown.