Asiae Nova Descriptio map part of atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius

Asiae Nova Descriptio is Abraham Ortelius’s influential map of Asia, first published in 1570 in Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the earliest modern atlas. Executed as a copper engraving and often issued in hand color, it reflects Renaissance cartography through its elegant lettering, decorative cartouche, and detailed rendering of coastlines, islands, and trade-linked regions. The map is notable for combining geographic knowledge with imaginative elements, revealing how sixteenth-century Europeans understood—and sometimes misread—the vast Asian continent.

Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598) was a Flemish cartographer and publisher based in Antwerp, celebrated as one of the founders of atlas-making. His Theatrum Orbis Terrarum brought together standardized maps by leading geographers into a single coherent volume, transforming map publishing in Europe. Ortelius’s work remains important for its blend of scholarship, visual refinement, and historical insight into the world picture of the Renaissance.