Table of Contents: Map of Ancient India
- MAP OF ANCIENT INDIA
- Map of Ancient India – A Historical Cartographic Representation
- The Indian Subcontinent (Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire)
- Carte de l’Inde et de l’Asie Sud-Est – Poirson et Malte-Brun, 1812
- An early 19th-century French map of India and Southeast Asia
- Description of Map of Ancient India
- East-Indies and the Adjacent Countries – Herman Moll (c. 1687)
- A late 17th-century map by Herman Moll illustrating the East Indies
- Map of Ancient India
Explore our collection of historical maps visualizing the Indian subcontinent across time. From reconstructions of ancient empires to detailed colonial surveys, these artifacts reveal evolving geographical knowledge and shifting perspectives on “Ancient India.” Discover how early, text-influenced understandings transformed with exploration and strategic interests. Each map offers a unique window into the past, illustrating the interplay of geography, politics, and cartography in representing this pivotal region.
These maps trace the very concept of “Ancient India,” encompassing diverse empires and cultures. Early depictions often highlight major powers like the Mauryan Empire. Later colonial-era maps show a more detailed subcontinent, driven by administration. Examining these interpretations enriches our appreciation for the historical geography of India and its changing representation on the world stage.
Maps of the World
MAP OF ANCIENT INDIA
Map of Ancient India – A Historical Cartographic Representation
The Indian Subcontinent (Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire)
| * | Creator: Likely influenced by James Rennell and the Survey of India. |
| * | Publication Year: 1870 |
| * | Title Translation: India on Hindustan. |
| * | Publisher Location: Not explicitly stated. |
| * | Regions Depicted: The Indian subcontinent (“India on Hindustan”). |
| * | Historical Context: British colonial interests and administration in India. |
| * | Key Features: Likely accurate for the time, potentially showing administrative divisions. |
| * | Scale: Present on the original map. |
This 1870 map, titled “India on Hindustan,” represents the cartographic understanding of the Indian subcontinent during that era, significantly shaped by British geographical efforts. While not directly attributed in this description, the map’s likely lineage traces back to James Rennell, a key figure in early accurate mapping of India, and the extensive surveys conducted by the British Survey of India since 1767. Rennell’s foundational work was vital for British strategic and administrative control. By 1870, the Survey of India’s detailed work for revenue and land management would have contributed to a relatively precise depiction of the subcontinent’s geography and potentially its administrative boundaries under British rule. This map serves as a historical artifact illustrating the evolving cartographic knowledge of India during the 19th century within the context of British colonialism.
Carte de l’Inde et de l’Asie Sud-Est – Poirson et Malte-Brun, 1812
An early 19th-century French map of India and Southeast Asia
| * | Creator: Poirson and Malte-Brun |
| * | Publication Year: 1812 |
| * | Title Translation (if applicable): Map of India and Southeast Asi |
| * | Publisher Location (if applicable): Likely Paris (based on French creators) |
| * | Regions Depicted: India (“Inde,” “Hindoustan”), Southeast Asia |
| * | Historical Context: Early 19th-century colonial era, French geographical scholarship. |
| * | Key Features: Political boundaries, place names (in French), “Golfe de Bengale” (Bay of Bengal), elephant illustration, distance scale (upper right). |
| * | Scale: Present in the upper right corner. |
Description of Map of Ancient India
This 1812 French map by Poirson and Malte-Brun, “Carte de l’Inde et de l’Asie Sud-Est,” depicts India (“Inde,” “Hindoustan”) and Southeast Asia with French labels. It shows political boundaries and place names of the early 19th century, includes the “Golfe de Bengale,” an elephant illustration, and a distance scale. It reflects French geographical understanding during the colonial era.
East-Indies and the Adjacent Countries – Herman Moll (c. 1687)
A late 17th-century map by Herman Moll illustrating the East Indies
| * | Creator: Herman Moll |
| * | Publication Year: c. 1687 |
| * | Region Depicted: East Indies (Southeast Asia, primarily Malay Archipelago) |
| * | Historical Context: European colonial expansion and trade in the East Indies. |
| * | Key Features: Geographical boundaries, colonial possessions (English, Spanish, French, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese), settlements, factories, territories. |
| * | Scale: Likely included on the original map. |
Map of Ancient India
This late 17th-century map, titled “A Map of the East-Indies and the Adjacent Countries,” was created by the prominent cartographer Herman Moll around 1687. It focuses on the region then known as the East Indies, encompassing much of modern-day Indonesia and Southeast Asia, historically famous as the Spice Islands. Beyond simply outlining geographical boundaries, Moll’s map is significant for indicating the colonial possessions, trade settlements (“factories”), and territorial claims of various European powers, including England, Spain, France, Holland, Denmark, and Portugal. This cartographic representation provides valuable insight into the early stages of European colonial influence and the competition for resources and trade routes within this strategically important region of Asia during the late 17th century. The map highlights the evolving political landscape shaped by European ambitions in the East Indies.