Bangladesh in old Maps

This site presents a selection of historic maps depicting Bengal and Bangladesh. Most of these maps come from European maritime traditions—Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British—and were instrumental in exploration, trade, and colonization across Asia. We recognize that cartography in India was never free of a colonial mindset: these maps were extremely helpful for conquest and control. At the same time, they provide a valuable overview of the region’s geography, navigation routes, and history.

The Bengal delta, formed by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, is a prominent feature. Its shallow, shifting waters and sandbars made navigation challenging, making accurate maps essential for survival. Beyond their artistic value, these maps were practical tools that guided explorers through uncertain and often dangerous terrain.

Maps were major investments, reused and updated over time with new discoveries, while older information was often retained, illustrated, or translated.

We highlight a few examples of these fascinating maps but do not claim authorship. Our interpretations are based on publicly available sources, including Wikipedia. For further exploration, see the Mapping Bengal website and high-resolution map collections from the New York Public Library, the David Rumsey Map Collection, and Princeton University Map Collection.

This website is a work in progress. We will continue to update it as new historical maps become available or as new interesting facts are uncovered. Keep watching!