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An early 19th century map by the English cartographer John Cary, highlighting the mountain ranges and rivers of Southeast Asia. The map also features many place names of cities, towns and islands.

This map from 1800 is by the Scottish cartographer Alexander Dalrymple, who was the first Hydrographer of the British Admiralty. It documents the river systems of the Birman Empire (Myanmar) and modern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Hand-drawn coloured borders have been added to this map to distinguish various regions: mainland Southeast Asia and most of the islands of maritime Southeast Asia are bordered in green, with Borneo and the Philippines in red.

Labels on this late 18th century map of Southeast Asia describe two indigenous populations—the ‘Kemoy’ of the mountains along the border of Cochin China (Vietnam) and Camboja (Cambodia), and the ‘Biayos’ of central Borneo—as ‘a wild Nation’.

From the first volume of John Seally’s ‘A Complete Geographical Dictionary’, this map of Asia includes the ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia, and the Sunda and Molucca islands (‘Molucca or Spice Islands’) of maritime Southeast Asia.

On this map of Asia, Borneo is labelled ‘The Inland Part of this Island is inhabited by the Biayos a savage People’, a description seen on many contemporary maps. The ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia are also shown.

On this map of Asia, Borneo is labelled ‘The Inland Part of this Island is inhabited by the Biayos a savage People’, a description seen on many contemporary maps. The ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia are also shown.

This map uses colour to identify regions in late 18th century Southeast Asia, many of which roughly correspond to modern countries: Pegu=Myanmar, Tonkin/Cochin China=Vietnam, Lao =Laos, Siam=Thailand, Malaya=Malaysia, Philippin Islands=Philippines.

The arrows on this map show the direction of the seasonal monsoons: each arrow has a label, indicating the month. The northeast coast of Borneo is labelled ‘A Desart [desert/deserted?] Coast’, while the south is labelled ‘Pepper Country’.

A detailed late 17th century map of Asia, showing ancient kingdoms and the place names of important settlements. The cartouche features a drawing of Asian traders selling their goods, while a camel, monkey and two birds look on.