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Descriptio Malaccae

eventc.1600-1699

location_onMalaysia, Singapore, Indonesia

Latin text on the reverse of this map describes Malacca, including crops and products (rice, pepper, spices, pearls), precious metals (gold, silver and tin), and animals (sheep, elephant), showing the city’s importance to European trade at the time.

Asia

eventc.1600-1699

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

An early European map of Asia by the Flemish cartographer Hendrik Hondius (1573–c. 1650).

India orientalis

eventc.1600-1699

location_onVietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei

This 17th century map features a number of mythical lakes once thought to exist in southern China. One of these lakes (‘Chiamai Lac’) feeds three rivers—labelled ‘Menan’, ‘Manthabam’ and ‘Cosmin’—which flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

India Orientalis: cuius nobilior pars sunt duo ista quasi ingentia totius Asiæ promontoria in Oceanum versus Meridiem projecta, cum suis insulis

event1600

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

The island of Java was initially labelled on this map as ‘Iaua Minor’ (Java Minor), but this was altered to ‘Iaua Maior’ (Java Major), reflecting the common confusion over the names at the time. Sumatra and Borneo were both similarly mis-labelled.

India orien

event1600

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

Early 17th century map of Asia, with annotations in Latin naming the major countries, islands and cities. Maritime Southeast Asia is shown as an archipelago of many small islands. French text on the reverse describes crops and animals of the region.

Descriptio hydrographica accommodata ad battavorum navagatione in Javam insulam Indiæ Orientalis

eventc.1599-1628

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

This map shows the route of the first Dutch expedition to Southeast Asia in 1595-7. Led by Cornelis de Houtman, it was an attempt to enter the spice trade. The route crosses east over the Indian Ocean, circles the island of Java, and returns west.

Exacta & accurata delineatio cum orarum maritimarum tum etiam locorum terrestrium quae in regionibus China, Cauchinchina, Camboia sive Champa, Syao, Malacca, Aracan & Pegu

event1598

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

Unusually, north is located to the left of this map of East Asia, rather than the top. The text notes that shallows and reefs are marked, and that the map is based on the explorations of Portuguese ships. Illustrations include sea monsters and ships.

Indiae Orientalis insularumque adiacientium typus

event1598

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

A white banner at the right features text that notes that the ‘Insule Molucce’ (Maluku Islands) are famous for their abundance of spices, which are sold across the world. There are also Illustrations of mermaids and sea monsters wrecking a ship.

Nova tabula insularum Iavae, Sumatrae, Borneonis et aliarum Mallaccam usquae

event1598

location_onMalaysia, Indonesia, Singapore

Adapted by Theodore de Bry from an original by Willem Lodewycksz, this map has some inaccuracies e.g. the Malay Peninsula (‘Chersonese’) is completely bisected by the Muar River, leaving the southern tip of the peninsula as a separate island.

Asia

event1598

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

This late 16th century map features a 'wind-head', a decorative feature consisting of a drawing of the head of a human blowing to indicate wind.

Asia partiṽ̃ orbis maxima MDXCVIII

event1598

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

The title of this late 16th century map of Asia translates from Latin as 'Asia the largest part of the world'. There is German text on the back of the map giving a description of Asia.

India orientalis

eventc.1597-1617

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

Latin text written on New Guinea explains that it is uncertain whether it is an island or part of ‘Australis’ (‘southern land’) a name that was used for a continent thought to exist in the region (and after which Australia was eventually named).

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