Insulae Indiae Orientalis

Maps of Malaya and Borneo: Discovery, Statehood and Progress showcases the extensive map collections of His Royal Highness Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Sultan of Selangor, and Richard Curtis. The combined collections contain more than 160 maps dating from the 1500s to after Malaysia's formation in 1963. The collections include early Portuguese, Dutch, French and English maps, nautical charts, maps of the interior, maps from atlases and encyclopaedias, maps showing economy, culture and communications and urban maps. Extensive captions highlight key features of the maps, provide insights into their creators and explain the context in which the maps were produced and used. The presentation of the collections is preceded by an authoritative text on the mapping of Malaya and Borneo over the last 1,800 years. This text explains the quest for accurate maps; illustrates how maps showcased the changing economic, cultural and political dynamics within Malaya and Borneo; and describes the evolution of mapping techniques as well as providing insights into the work of leading cartographers.

Chapters on Malacca, Tugu (Java), Larantuka (Flores) and Singapore.

I really applaud your efforts. It's really difficult to do a book like that.- WAZIRThanks again for your immense work, my family and I are indeed extremely grateful.- AZLANYour effort in writing about the early Muslim doctors is very commendable and would be good for present and future generations to read about.- TAHIRYou are doing valuable work by filling in the gaps in our history. Iwish more of our retirees would impart their memories to repositoriesof knowledge such as the USM.- TAWFIK

The most comprehensive and fully illustrated guide to the tadpoles of Bornean frogs available. The book presents tadpole descriptions for 99 species from the southeast Asian island of Borneo, covering all species commonly found, as well as representatives of the more cryptic ones. Almost all presented species are depicted from life with color photographs, mostly for the first time. The aims of this book are to allow a broad audience an easy access to the tadpole fauna of Borneo, increase awareness of these life stages, document their diversity, and provide insights into their fascinating biology.

The cover image, World Map by Fra Mauro c. 1450, is one of the most important and famous maps of all time. This monumental map of the world was created by the monk Fra Mauro in his monastery on the island of San Michele in the Venetian lagoon. Now the centrepiece of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in St Marc’s Square in Venice, the map in its nearly 600-year history has never left Venice – until now. Renowned for its sheer size - over 2.3 metres square - and stunning colours, the map was made at a time of transition between the medieval world view and new knowledge uncovered by the great voyages of discovery. Brilliantly painted and illuminated on sheets of oxhide, the sphere of the Earth is surrounded by the sphere of the Ocean in the ancient way. Yet Fra Mauro included the latest information on exploration by Portuguese and Arab navigators. Commissioned by King Afonso V of Portugal, it is the last of the great medieval world maps to inspire navigators in the Age of Discovery to explore beyond the Indian Ocean.