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Although this map focuses on French colonial possessions in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India, a small part of Southeast Asia is shown: labelled ‘Birmans’, it was part of the Birman Empire (modern Myanmar).

Map of the East Indies in the mid-19th century, with the borders of Dutch colonial territory (Dutch East Indies) marked in brown.

Map of Asia divided into regions with coloured borders. Mainland Southeast Asia is in green, and features the ancient kingdoms of Birma (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand) and An-nam (Vietnam).

Although this map focuses on French colonial possessions in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India, a small part of Southeast Asia is shown: labelled ‘Birmans’, it was part of the Birman Empire (modern Myanmar).

Although this map focuses on French colonial possessions in Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and India, a small part of Southeast Asia is shown: labelled ‘Birmans’, it was part of the Birman Empire (modern Myanmar).

Map of the East Indies in the mid-19th century, with the borders of Dutch colonial territory (Dutch East Indies) marked in brown.

Southeast Asia is featured on the last of the four sheets of this map of Asia. The South China Sea is particularly detailed, with islands, rocks, shoals and reefs named, sometimes dated, and even marked with the name of the ship that mapped them.

Map of the East Indies, with the borders of Dutch colonial territory marked in brown. The Malay Peninsula (‘Malakka’) has green borders, indicating it is a British possession. Four inset maps show other Dutch territories outside Southeast Asia.

From ‘Lizars' Edinburgh Geographical General Atlas’, this mid-19th century map was based on an earlier map by the English cartographer John Cary. It highlights the mountain ranges and rivers of Southeast Asia, and also features many place names.

Map of the East Indies, with the borders of Dutch colonial territory marked in brown. The Malay Peninsula (‘Malakka’) has green borders, indicating it is a British possession. Four inset maps show other Dutch territories outside Southeast Asia.

Map of Dutch colonial possessions in maritime Southeast Asia, labelled with the names of administrative areas. Mountains are represented by hachures, short lines/dashes that give a sense of the shape and steepness of terrain.

Based on the British ethnologist James Cowles Prichard’s book ‘Natural History of Man’, this map shows the location of ethnicities in Asia. In Southeast Asia, the races are listed as ‘Arakan’, ‘Pegu’, ‘Thay or Siamese’, ‘Anam’ and ‘Pelagian’.