Orientaliora Indiarum Orientalium by Frederik de Wit

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Map Collection, University of Melbourne Library

This Dutch maritime chart shows areas of Australia, China and the ‘East Indies’ (parts of India, Laos, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia). It presents an unusual orientation, with north to the left of the sheet. It is based on Pieter Goos’ chart of 1666 (Paskaerte Zynde t’Oosterdeel Van Oost Indien). The Dutch East India Company (Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie) was established in 1602 and had its port in Batavia (present-day Jakarta). This powerful company enjoyed great wealth derived from the spice trade of the Maluku Islands. The Dutch were eager to explore the lands of the Indian Ocean, with a view to making money, and it was this ambition that brought them to Australia.

Dutch landings and charting led the Great South Land or Terra Australis to be named ‘New Holland’ in the 17th century. The de Wit chart reflects coastlines recorded by the Dutch, such as in charts made by Abel Tasman (1603–1659) on his voyages of exploration in 1642 and 1644, during which he charted sections of Australia (including Tasmania) and New Zealand. Unlike the Portuguese and Spanish, the Dutch were unaware of the strait separating Cape York from New Guinea and showed these two countries joined. The rhumb lines and compass points on this chart indicate that it served a practical purpose in plotting a navigational course.

Teaching ideas

The University of Melbourne’s curriculum is rich and varied, and changes from year to year. For more teaching ideas, contact a collection manager.

Mapping Environments

Study historic sea charts to understand methods of determining position. Compare charts to map projections. How did cartography in paper maps develop? Visit the Map Collection to view a variety of examples at first hand.

Imaging the Environment

Describe the characteristics of different landmass-imaging techniques in historic maps. Consider the role of decoration and colour, and the commercial imperatives of map production.

Generating the Wealth of Nations

Explain the importance of the Dutch East India Company in European colonial expansion and the rise of trading economies. Find evidence in Dutch maps to support your argument.

Migration and Development

In maps at the university, what evidence can you find of circumstances that can lead to human mobility?

Law of the Sea

The law of the sea relates to the allocation of jurisdiction and peaceful uses of the seas and oceans, the equitable and efficient use of marine resources, and the study, protection and preservation of the marine environment. What precedents in history have seen this law develop? Are they represented in maps?

Age of Empires

Analyse maps as primary source material in writing about the past. What can they reveal about the Age of Discovery, the Enlightenment and colonial expansion?

Encounters with Writing

Use objects such as maps as memory and creative triggers, to initiate and develop detailed knowledge in self-initiated creative writing projects.

Knowledge, Learning and Culture

Visit the Map Collection and, working in groups, examine maps and discuss how they transmit knowledge.

Intersecting objects