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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A 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.

A 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.

This late 16th/early 17th century map by Abraham Ortelius features a number of mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in southern China—including ‘Cayamay Lacus’—and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

This late 16th century map by Abraham Ortelius features a network of mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in China, and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

This map depicts Asia in the form of the mythical winged horse Pegasus, with mainland Southeast Asia being represented by the left hind leg. It is from the German theologian Heinrich Bünting's book of woodcut maps ‘Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae’.

This map depicts Asia in the form of the mythical winged horse Pegasus, with mainland Southeast Asia being represented by the left hind leg. It is from the German theologian Heinrich Bünting's book of woodcut maps ‘Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae’.