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This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show territorial regions in Asia towards the middle of the fifth century. Borneo is labelled ‘Kalemantan’, and Sulawesi is labelled ‘Mangkassar’.

This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show territorial regions in Asia from the 6th to the 9th centuries. Thailand is labelled 'Siang-koue' and Vietnam is 'Tschn-tschin'.

This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show territorial regions in Asia in the 9th and 10th centuries. Thailand is labelled ‘Siang-koue', and Malaya is ‘Ujung Tanah Zyrbad’.

This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show territorial regions in Asia in the 11th and 12th centuries. Borneo is labelled ‘Kalemantan’, and Malaya is labelled ‘Tanah Malayu (Malai)’.

In the 18th century, European maps tended to use their own country’s meridian, so on this French map of Asia longitude is measured from the Paris Meridian. Southeast Asia is divided into regions such as the Birman Empire, Yunshan and Tonquin.

The Kingdoms of Burmah (Myanmar) and Siam (Thailand) feature on this map of India. Mountain ranges, rivers, and a teak forest are marked, along with major settlements.

Map focusing on the passages between the islands of maritime Southeast Asia. Many 18th century routes are labelled with the ship/captain’s name and date, and there are notes on some shoals and reefs recording names, details and incidents/shipwrecks.

In the 18th century, European maps tended to use their own country’s meridian, so on this French map of Asia longitude is measured from the Paris Meridian. Southeast Asia is divided into regions such as the Birman Empire, Yunshan and Tonquin.

The Kingdoms of Burmah (Myanmar) and Siam (Thailand) feature on this map of India. Mountain ranges, rivers, and a teak forest are marked, along with major settlements.

Map focusing on the passages between the islands of maritime Southeast Asia. Many 18th century routes are labelled with the ship/captain’s name and date, and there are notes on some shoals and reefs recording names, details and incidents/shipwrecks.

This map from 1800 is by the Scottish cartographer Alexander Dalrymple, who was the first Hydrographer of the British Admiralty. It documents the river systems of the Birman Empire (Myanmar) and modern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

This late 18th century map features a number of labels describing the local populations, including the Kemoys ('Savage People') of the mountains of Cokin China (Vietnam), the Biayos of Borneo, and the 'Wild People' of the mountains of Pegu (Myanmar).