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This 19th century map highlights British colonial possessions in India (in red), and the various kingdoms of northern Southeast Asia, including the Birman Empire (Myanmar), Cochin China and Tonkin (Vietnam), Lao (Laos), Siam (Thailand), and Cambodia.

This simple map of the Dutch East Indies shows the locations of Christian missions in the region in the early 19th century.

This simple map of the Dutch East Indies shows the locations of Christian missions in the region in the early 19th century.

An early 19th century map, with the regions of Southeast Asia marked with coloured borders: Malaya is red, indicating it is part of the British Empire; the orange borders around Sumatra, Borneo and Celebes show they are part of the Dutch East Indies.

This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show the colonial possessions of the European powers—Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France, Britain and Denmark—at the end of the 17th century.

This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show the possessions of the Indian Maratha Empire, and of the European colonial powers at the end of the 18th century.

Map of Java divided into Dutch colonial administrative areas and the Mataram Sultanate (‘Pays de l'Empereur et du Sultan du Mataram entre melés [Country of the Emperor and the Sultan of Mataram mixed]’. The map is orientated with south at the top.

Map of Java divided into Dutch colonial administrative areas and the Mataram Sultanate (‘Pays de l'Empereur et du Sultan du Mataram entre melés [Country of the Emperor and the Sultan of Mataram mixed]’. The map is orientated with south at the top.

On this map of Asia, borders are outlined and cities underlined in different colours to show the colonial territories of the European powers: e.g. at this time, Benkulen (Bencoolen) on the west coast of Sumatra is British, and Malacca is Dutch.

On this map of Asia, borders are outlined and cities underlined in different colours to show the colonial territories of the European powers: e.g. at this time, Benkulen (Bencoolen) on the west coast of Sumatra is British, and Malacca is Dutch.

A late 18th century map of Asia, with notes on the principal states, empires and kingdoms of Asia written in French on the right-hand side.

Some regions on this map of Southeast have a descriptive label: New Guinea is described as unknown to Europeans; Borneo was abandoned by Europeans due to the ‘unmanageability’ of the inhabitants; the Philippines were discovered by Spain in 1565.