Asie par M. Bonne

European colonial ambitions in Asia during the late 18th century.

This interesting antique map of Asia was created by the French cartographer Rigobert Bonne and published around 1787. It presents a European understanding of continental geography and political composition at the end of the 18th century. Kingdoms, important cities, and notable geographic features are labeled throughout the image. The Silk Road can be loosely followed through ancient stopovers like Kashgar, Samarkand, Herat, Isfahan, and Damascus. A lesser-known trade route, the Siberian Route, follows Irkutsk to Moscow. More contemporary commercial interests are reflected in ports like Canton, Manila, Batavia, and Calcutta.