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The colonial possessions of Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Denmark are shown on this mid-19th century map of Southeast Asia. There are inset maps of Penang Island and Singapore, and text describing the region’s colonial history.

The various regions of Southeast Asia are marked in different colours on this mid-19th century map. For example, on the mainland, the Birman Empire (Myanmar) is in yellow, with Siam (Thailand) in blue, and Anam (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) in green.

An early 19th century map, with the regions of Southeast Asia marked with different colours. Interestingly, Cambodia and modern Vietnam (labelled here as Cochinchina and Tonkin) are grouped with China.

An early 19th century map of Asia by the English cartographer John Cary (c.1754–1835) with colour-coded regions.

Labels on this late 18th century map of Southeast Asia describe two indigenous populations—the ‘Kemoy’ of the mountains along the border of Cochin China (Vietnam) and Camboja (Cambodia), and the ‘Biayos’ of central Borneo—as ‘a wild Nation’.