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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).

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.

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.

This mid-16th century map of Southeast Asia shows some inaccuracies, especially in the shape of the Malay Peninsula and the islands meant to represent Sumatra (labelled ‘Camatra’), Java (‘Iava Mazor’) and Borneo (‘Iava Menor’). Latin text on reverse.

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.

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 early map of Asia includes text describing the local people, their religious beliefs, crops, spices etc. On the island labelled Angama there is a drawing of anthropophagi—members of a mythical race of cannibals—chopping up a human body.

This early map of Asia includes text describing the local people, their religious beliefs, crops, spices etc. On the island labelled Angama there is a drawing of anthropophagi—members of a mythical race of cannibals—chopping up a human body.

Early map of Asia, with the islands of Taprobana (Sumatra) to the west of the Malay Peninsula, and Timonia (Tioman) to the east. Text gives details of local economies: sandalwood on Tioman, and silver and silk at Lamai near Mallaqua (Malacca).

Early map by Lorenz Fries, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. The Malay Peninsula—labelled ‘Aurea Chersone [Golden Chersonese]’—is recognisable. A drawing on the reverse features cannibals with dog’s heads chopping up human bodies.

Based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy, this map by Martin Waldseemüller has Latin inscriptions. The Malay Peninsula is labelled ‘Aurea Chersones [Golden Chersonese]’.