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This mid-18th century map of Asia features a drawing of religious imagery: Asian people are seen making offerings to two figures, including the Greek god Poseidon (or the Roman god Neptune), and kneeling as cherubs descend from the sky.

Based on a Dutch map of the Sunda Islands, with the text changed to Italian. Some Dutch remains e.g. a label on Borneo: ‘Beajous Afgoden dienars bewonende het middelste gedeelte vant Eilland [Beajous idolaters inhabit the middle part of the Island]’.

On this map, mainland Southeast Asia is divided into regions such as Cochin China, Ciampa and Tunquin (modern Vietnam), Siam (Thailand), Pegu, Aracan and Ava (Myanmar), Malacca (Malaysia), Laos and Cambodia. Rivers and settlements are also shown.

On this map, mainland Southeast Asia is divided into regions such as Cochin China, Ciampa and Tunquin (modern Vietnam), Siam (Thailand), Pegu, Aracan and Ava (Myanmar), Malacca (Malaysia), Laos and Cambodia. Rivers and settlements are also shown.

On this map, mainland Southeast Asia is divided into regions such as Cochin China, Ciampa and Tunquin (modern Vietnam), Siam (Thailand), Pegu, Aracan and Ava (Myanmar), Malacca (Malaysia), Laos and Cambodia. Rivers and settlements are also shown.

On this map, mainland Southeast Asia is divided into regions such as Cochin China, Ciampa and Tunquin (modern Vietnam), Siam (Thailand), Pegu, Aracan and Ava (Myanmar), Malacca (Malaysia), Laos and Cambodia. Rivers and settlements are also shown.

This map was intended for navigation purposes, with bathymetry (sea depth), reefs, shoals and anchor points marked. One island is labelled ‘like a sugar loaf’, another ‘like a turtel [turtle]’. Oedong Sallang is the island of Phuket, Thailand.

The London-based cartographer Herman Moll (1654?–1732) created this map of Asia in the early 18th century. There are five insets showing Asian trading cities, including of the ports of Batavia (Jakarta) and Bantam (Banten) in western Java.

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’).