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Sumatra ein grosse Insel: so von den alten Geographen Taprobana genennet worden

eventc.1588-1628

location_onIndonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand

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]’.

Asia wie es jetziger zeit nach den fuernemesten Herrschafften abgetheilet und beschriben ist

eventc.1588-1628

location_onBrunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

This early German map of Asia is colour-coded by region, and features a brief description of Asia in blackletter German text. Interestingly, the Southeast Asian island of Sumatra is labelled 'Taprobana' which is the name the Greeks called Sri Lanka.

Die Laender Asie nach ihrer Gelegenheit biss in Indiam, werden in dieser Tafeln verzeichnet

event1550

location_onCambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Brunei, East Timor, Singapore

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.

Die Laender Asie nach ihrer Gelegenheit biss in Indiam, werden in dieser Tafeln verzeichnet

eventc.1550

location_onBrunei, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Vietnam

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.

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