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A map of Java with mountains, jungles, animals and crops. Bathymetry (sea depth) is marked, including on an inset map of Batavia harbour. Illustrations include Batavia Castle, and a lion—representing Belgium—receiving tribute and enslaving locals.

The focus of this map of Java (‘Iava Maior’) is the line of settlements along the north coast of the island, including the important port of Bantem (‘Bantam’) at the northwest. In contrast, the interior of the island is almost completely blank.

Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula feature on this map of the Indian Ocean. Enganno Island, west of southern Sumatra, has a label that translates as ‘inhabited by very pernicious savages’. An inset map depicts the Madura Strait between Java and Madura.

This late 17th century map of the western Sunda Islands—Sumatra, Java and Borneo—is decorated with a colourful cartouche probably featuring the Greek god Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite. Cherubs play trumpets and ride on sea monsters.

From Robert Morden’s ‘Geography Rectified’, a description with maps of the known world in the late 17th century. Text describes the peoples of the uplands of the Sunda Islands as ‘Pagans’, while the coastal peoples are ‘Mahumetans [Muslims]’.

This mid-17th century Italian map is from Sir Robert Dudley's atlas ‘Dell'arcano del Mare’. It shows the Sunda Strait (‘Stretto di Sunda’) between the Southeast Asian islands of Sumatra and Java. Text on the map refers to currents (‘Corrente’).

Apart from some small islands, this mid-17th century Italian map of the Indian Ocean features no land other than the islands of Sumatra and Java in the top right corner. Text on the map refers to winds (‘Venti’) and currents (‘Corrente’).

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.