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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.

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.

The line of settlements along the north coast of Java—contrasting with the almost empty interior—show that this map’s focus is on the sea. The islands, shoals and reefs that are marked, and the drawings of ships, reinforce this idea.

A red 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.

From Sebastian Münster's ‘Cosmographia’, this map of Java features illustrations of the ‘Anthropophagi’, a mythical race of cannibals. The book also notes the religion, language, and trade (pepper, nuts, nutmeg, saffron, ginger) of the local people.

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.