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This 18th century map of Southeast Asia by the French cartographer Gilles Robert de Vaugondy features the national borders of the Philippines in green, and of modern Indonesia in yellow. The Malay Peninsula and modern Cambodia and Vietnam are in red.

A map of a small island chain off the west coast of the island of Gilolo (modern Halmahera in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia). The military forts on the islands were used by the European colonial powers during conflicts over the area’s spice trade.

From the second edition (1749) of ‘Atlas Portatif Universel et Militaire’ by the French cartographer Gilles Robert de Vaugondy (1688–1766), this map features the Philippines (in blue) and Maluku Islands (in red).

The southern coasts of Sumbawa (‘Coinbava’) and Sumba (‘Sandet’), and most of the coast of New Guinea (‘Nouvelle Guinée’) are represented by a dotted line on this mid-18th century map, indicating that the exact coastlines were unknown at this time.

Map of Asia showing New Guinea (‘Nieuw Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nieuw Holland’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century. However, it does include New Britain (‘N. Bretanje’).

Map of Asia showing New Guinea (‘Nieuw Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nieuw Holland’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century. However, it does include New Britain (‘N. Bretanje’).

Map of Asia showing New Guinea (‘Nieuw Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nieuw Holland’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century. However, it does include New Britain (‘N. Bretanje’).

Map of Asia showing New Guinea (‘Nieuw Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nieuw Holland’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century. However, it does include New Britain (‘N. Bretanje’).

Map of Asia showing New Guinea (‘Nieuw Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nieuw Holland’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century. However, it does include New Britain (‘N. Bretanje’).

Map of Asia showing New Guinea (‘Nieuw Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nieuw Holland’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century. However, it does include New Britain (‘N. Bretanje’).

This map showcases the colonial territories of Southeast Asia in the 18th century, with text detailing trading information and the products of each region. There are five inset maps featuring plans of specific trading ports.

Map of the ‘Spice Islands’ of maritime Southeast Asia, including the Maluku Islands. It is decorated with a drawing of an Asian man holding a large bird and a spear, and surrounded by baskets and boxes of goods of the spice trade.