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Rivers and major settlements are the main feature of this colourful early map of Asia. Italian text gives further details about the region.

Early map by Giovanni Antonio Magini, based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. It is difficult to pinpoint exact locations, but the area labelled ‘India Extra Ganges [India beyond the Ganges]’ could include some of modern Myanmar.

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 map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

A map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

This early German map of Asia is colour-coded by region, and features a brief description of Asia in blackletter German text. Interestingly, the Southeast Asian island of Sumatra is labelled 'Taprobana' which is the name the Greeks called Sri Lanka.

This late 16th/early 17th century map by Abraham Ortelius features a number of mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in southern China—including ‘Cayamay Lacus’—and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

This late 16th century map by Abraham Ortelius features a network of mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in China, and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

This map depicts Asia in the form of the mythical winged horse Pegasus, with mainland Southeast Asia being represented by the left hind leg. It is from the German theologian Heinrich Bünting's book of woodcut maps ‘Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae’.

This early map of Sumatra—referred to in the accompanying French text as ‘Isle de la Taprobane’—is covered with illustrations of people working on the land, and with elephants and camels. Villages, mountains, rivers and wild animals are also shown.

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.