Before Portuguese navigators “named” the South China Sea, the sea was known as the Champa Sea, after the Cham people who established a kingdom in Central Vietnam from the late 2nd to the 17th century. The ancestors of the Chams spoke a language derived from the Austronesian language, from which the Tagalog language is also derived.

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As early as the 1500s, ancient maps referred to the islands in the Champa Sea as “Pulo,” which in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.”

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1572 Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus
Published in 1572 in Antwerp by Abraham Ortelius. This map shows several geographic features referred to as “Pulo”. “Pulo” in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.” This digital reproduction is from Sanderus Antiquariaat- Antique Maps.
Source: (https://www.sanderusmaps.com/en/our-catalogue/detail/167882/old-antique-map-of-southeast-asia-by-a-ortelius)

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1578 Asiae Novissima Tabula
Published in 1578 in Antwerp by Gerard De Jode. The map, pre-dating Ortelius’ map of China (1584), shows one of the earliest obtainable depictions of the Philippines, not yet collectively named, although many individual islands are named. This map also shows geographic features referred to as “Pulo”. “Pulo” in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.” This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.
Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/45822/Asiae_Novissima_Tabula/De%20Jode.html

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1596 Jan Huygen Van Linschoten:  Exacta & Accurata Delineatio cum Orarum Maritimarum tum etjam locorum terrestrium quae in Regionibus China, Cauchinchina, Camboja sive Champa, Syao, Malacca, Arracan & Pegu.
Published in 1596 in London by Jan Huygen Van Linschoten. This map shows several geographic features referred to as “Pulo”. “Pulo” in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.” This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/41470/Exacta_and_Accurata_Delineatio_cum_Orarum_Maritimarum_tum_etjam_locorum/Van%20Linschoten.html

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1598 Asia Partiu Orbis Maxima MDXCVIII
Published in 1598 in Cologne by Matthias Quad and Johann Bussemachaer. This map shows several geographic features referred to as “Pulo”. “Pulo” in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.” This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/3540/Asia_Partiu_Orbis_Maxima_MDXCVIII/Quad-Bussemachaer.html

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1600 India Orientalis by Bussechamer
Published in 1600 in Cologne by Johann Bussemachaer. This map shows several geographic features referred to as “Pulo”. “Pulo” in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.” This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/35210/India_Orientalis_1600/Bussemachaer.html

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1606 India Orientalis by Hondius
Published in 1606 in Amsterdam by Jodocus Hondius. This map shows several geographic features referred to as “Pulo”. “Pulo” in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.” This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/25974/India_Orientalis/Hondius.html

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As early as 1630, ancient maps depicted unnamed maritime features lying off the coast of “Paragua” or “Paragoa,” the old Spanish name of Palawan, an island of the Philippines.

There are about 750 maritime features lying off the coast of Palawan. Most are submerged at all times while others are exposed only at low tide. Only 28 features remain above water at high tide. The largest high-tide feature, Itu Aba, is only 0.43 square kilometers. The rest range in size from 0.36 square kilometers, Pagasa, to less than 2 square meters.

These maritime features, the lowest parts of the Philippine island of Palawan, are the Spratlys.

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1630 Indiae Orientalis Nova Descriptio
Published in 1630 in Amsterdam by Jan Jansson. This is an important early map of Southeast Asia and the Philippines. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/45716/Indiae_Orientalis_Nova_Descriptio/Jansson.html

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1635 India quae Orientalis dicitur et Insulae Adiacentes

Published in 1642 in Amsterdam by Willem Blaeu. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/23789/India_quae_Orientalis_dicitur_et_Insulae_Adiacentes/Blaeu.html

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1635 Asia Noviter Delineata

Published in 1635 in Amsterdam by Janszoon Blaeu. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/43458/Asia_Noviter_Delineata/Blaeu.html

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1636 India quae Orientalis dicitur et Insulae Adiacentes
Published in 1636 in Amsterdam by Henricus Hondius. This is an important Dutch map of South East Asia. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/42967/India_quae_Orientalis_dicitur_et_Insulae_Adiacentes/Hondius.html

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1638 India Orientalis et Insulae Adiecentes (with early location of Northwestern Australia)
Published in 1638 in Frankfurt by Matthaus Merian. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/45307/India_Orientalis_et_Insulae_Adiecentes_with_early_location_of_Northwestern/Merian.html

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1650 Carte Generale Des Indes Orientales et des Isles Adiacentes
Published in Paris in 1650 by the mapmaker Pierre Mariette. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/30701/Carte_Generale_Des_Indes_Orientales_et_des_Isles_Adiacentes/Mariette.html

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1662 Tabula Indiae Orientalis
Published in Amsterdam in 1662 by Fredrick de Wit. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source :
http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/archivedetail/0555/Tabula_Indiae_Orientalis/De%20Wit.html

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1662 Paskaerte Zynde t’Oosterdeel Van Oost Indien, met alle de Eylanden daer ontrendt geleegen van C. Comorin tota aen Iapan
Published in Amsterdam in 1662 by Pieter Goos. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/36071/Paskaerte_Zynde_tOosterdeel_Van_Oost_Indien_met_alle_de_Eylanden_daer/Goos.html

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1669 Pas-Pas-caert Van’t Westelyckste Deel van Oost Indien En de Eylanden daer onder Begrepen
Published in 1669 in Amsterdam by Hendrick Doncker. The map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This map also shows several geographic features referred to as “Pulo”. “Pulo” in Tagalog means an “island, isolated place.” This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/45910/Pascaert_Vant_Oostelyckste_Deel_van_Oost_Indien_met_alle_de_Eylanden_daer/Doncker.html

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1670 Indiae Orientalis nec non Insularum Adiacentium Nova Descriptio
Published in Amsterdam in 1670 by Nicholaus Visscher. This map shows “Ainam,” or Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. The map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/43368/Indiae_Orientalis_nec_non_Insularum_Adiacentium_Nova_Descriptio/Visscher.html

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1677 Carte des Indes Orientales
Published in Paris in 1677 by Pierre Du Val. This map shows “Ainan” or Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/38353/Carte_des_Indes_Orientales_1677/Du%20Val.html

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1683 Isole Dell’India cioe le Molucche la Filippine e della Sonda Parte de Paesi
di nuova scoperta e l’Isole de Ladri ne Mare del Zud
Published in Rome in 1683 by Giacomo Cantelli da Vignola – Giacomo Gioanni Rossi. The map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source:
https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/archivedetail/1767RB/Isole_DellIndia_cioe_le_Molucche_la_Filippine_e_della_Sonda_Parte_de_Paesi/Cantelli%20da%20Vignola-Rossi.html

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1690 Isole Dell’ Indie, diuise in Filippine, Molucche, e della Sonda
Published in Venice in 1690 by Vincenzo Maria Coronelli. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/1705RB/Isole_Dell_Indie_diuise_in_Filippine_Molucche_e_della_Sonda/Coronelli.html

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1693 Carte des Costes de L’Asie Sur L’Ocean Contenant les Bancs Isle et Costes &c.
(Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia & Western Pacific)
Published in Venice in 1690 by Vincenzo Mortier. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source:
https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/36216/-Carte_des_Costes_de_LAsie_Sur_LOcean_Contenant_les_Bancs_Isle_et_Costes/Mortier.html

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1695 Imperii Sinarum Nova Descriptio
Published in Amsterdam in 1695 by Jean Covens and Pierre Mortier. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/44983/Imperii_Sinarum_Nova_Descriptio/Covens-Mortier.html

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1700 L’Inde De La Le Gange Suivant les Nouvelles Observations
(Malaysia, Straits of Malaca, Southeast Asia, Borneo, etc.)
Published in Amsterdam in 1700 by Pieter Vander Aa. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of Palawan. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/3812/LInde_De_La_Le_Gange_Suivant_les_Nouvelles_Observations_Malaysia/Vander%20Aa.html

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1702 Insulae Indicae Cum Terris Circumvicinis

Published in Munich in 1710 by Heinrich Scherer. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/4262/Insulae_Indicae_Cum_Terris_Circumvicinis/Scherer.html

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1705 Carte Des Indes et de la Chine Dressee sur plusieurs Rectifees par quelques
Observations Par Guillaume De L’Isle de l’Academie Royale des Sciences
Published in Paris in 1705 by Philippe Buache. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source : https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/34563/-Carte_Des_Indes_et_de_la_Chine_Dressee_sur_plusieurs_Rectifees_par_quelques/Buache.html

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1710 (Australia and Indian Ocean) Carte des Costes de L’Asie sur L’ocean Contenant
les Bancs Isles et Costes &c.

Published in Amsterdam in 1710 by Johannes Covens and Corneille Mortier. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/40896/Australia_and_Indian_Ocean_Carte_des_Costes_de_LAsie_sur_Locean/Covens-Mortier.html

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1724 Tabula Indiae Orientalis et Regnorum Adjacentium J. Van Braam et G. onder de Linden

Published in Amsterdam in 1724 by Francois Valentijn. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/0201gh/Tabula_Indiae_Orientalis_et_Regnorum_Adjacentium_J_Van_Braam_et_G_onder/Valentijn.html

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1730 India Orientalis cum Adjacentibus Insulis Nova Delineatione ob oculos posita

Published in Augsberg in 1730 by Matthaeus Seutter. This map shows “Ainam” or Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/archivedetail/3499/India_Orientalis_cum_Adjacentibus_Insulis_Nova_Delineatione_ob_oculos_posita%E2%80%A6/Seutter.html

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1734 Murillo Velarde Map
Published in 1734 in Manila by the Jesuit Pedro Murillo Velarde. This is the oldest map that gives a name to “Los Bajos de Paragua,” literally the shoals of Paragua. Paragua is the Spanish name for the island of Palawan. This map shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This map is considered the “mother of all Philippine maps.”

Source:
(U.S. Library of Congress (Catalog No. 2013585226; Digital ID g8060ct003137)).

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1740 Nuova et Accurata Carta dell’ Isole Filippine, Ladrones, a Moluccos o
Isole della Speziarie come anco Celebes &c.
Published in 1740 in Venice by Issac Tirion. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/32697/Nuova_et_Accurata_Carta_dell_Isole_Filippine_Ladrones_a_Moluccos_o_Isole/Tirion.html

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1744 Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas
Published in 1744 in Manila by the Jesuit Pedro Murillo Velarde. A second and smaller edition of the “Carta Hydrographica y Chorographica de las Yslas Filipinas.” This 1744 Murillo map, reduced version of the 1734 map, does not have the vignettes or scenes of people and places in the archipelago that appear in the 1734 map. The map is signed by the engraver, Nicholas dela Cruz Bagay. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines.

Source:
(National Library of Australia (Bib ID 1958890, map G8061. S1 1744)).

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1750 Archipel Des Indes Orientales, qui comprend Les Isles De La Sonde, Moluques
et Philippines, tirees des Cartes du Neptune Oriental
Published in 1750 in Paris by Didier Robert de Vaugondy. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/45544/Archipel_Des_Indes_Orientales_qui_comprend_Les_Isles_De_La_Sonde_Moluques/De%20Vaugondy.html

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1752 East Indies
Published in 1752 in London by Thomas Jefferys. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/40989/East_Indies/Jefferys.html

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1760 Carte Hydrographique & Chorographique des Isles Philippines Dediee a
Sa. Majeste Catholique, par le Brigadier Don Ferdinand Valdes Tamon . . .
Dressee par le R. Pere Pierre Murillo Velarde . . .
Tiree de la Original, et reduite en cette forme per George Maurice Lowitz
Published in 1760 in Nuremberg by George M. Lowitz based on the Murillo map. This map shows the Spratlys, Los Bajos de Paragua, as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction
is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/35555/Carte_Hydrographique_and_Chorographique_des_Isles_Philippines_Dediee_a_Sa/Lowitz-Homann%20Heirs.html

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1770 A Map of the East India Islands, agreeable to the most approved Maps and Charts

Published in 1770 in London by Thomas Kitchin. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China This map also shows the Spratlys, the Shelves of Parago, as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source : http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/4493/A_Map_of_the_East_India_Islands_agreeable_to_the_most_approved_Maps_and/Kitchin.html

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1785 Isole Filippine

Published in 1785 in Venice by Antonio Zatta. This map shows the Spratlys, Los Bajos de Paragua, as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/archivedetail/7321/Isola_Filippinea_1785/Zatta.html

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1851 Malay Archipelago, or East India Islands

Published in London in 1851 by John Tallis. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/3674/Malay_Archipelago_or_East_India_Islands/Tallis.html

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1852 Islas Filipinas
Published in 1852 in Madrid by D. Antonio Morata and D. Francisco Coello. This map is one of three parts of a map of the entire Philippines and is one of the most detailed 19th century Spanish maps of the Philippines. This map shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines.

Source:
(National Library of Australia (Bib ID 3639193, map-rm 1608)).

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1857 East Indies
Published in New York in 1857 by Joseph Hutchins Colton. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the unnamed Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/40878

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1859 China Sea. Sheet II (South East), Bruit River to Calamian Island

Published in 1867 in London by British Admiralty. This map shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/35029/China_-Sea_Sheet_II_South_East_Bruit_River_to_Calamian_Island_1859/British%20Admiralty.html

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1860 Borneo, Iles De La Sonde, Celebes, Moluques, et Philippines
Published in 1860 in Paris by F.A. Garnier. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: http://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/24445/Borneo_Iles_De_La_Sond

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1865 Hidrographia Carta Esferica del Oceano Indio
Published in 1865 in Madrid by Direccion de Hidrografia. This map shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines.

Source: (National Library of Australia (Bib ID 122670, map-rm 2237)).

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1865 Hidrographia Carta Esferica del Oceano Indio (Zoom Image)
Published in 1865 in Madrid by Direccion de Hidrografia.

Source:
(National Library of Australia (Bib ID 122670, map-rm 2237)).

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1871 Hidographia Carta General del Oceano Indico
Published in 1871 in Madrid by Seccion de Hidrografia. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines.

Source: (National Library of Australia (Bib ID 2823213, map-rm 2235)).

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1871 Hidographia Carta General del Oceano Indico (Zoom Image)
Published in 1871 in Madrid by Seccion de Hidrografia.

Source:
(National Library of Australia (Bib ID 2823213, map-rm 2235)).

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1876 Ost-Indien

Published in Gotha in 1876 by Adolph Stieler. This map shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source : https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/25497

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1876 Die Ostindischen Inseln
Published in 1876 in Gotha by Adolph Stieler. This map shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/42508/Die_Ostindischen_Inseln/Stieler.html

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1896 Asiatic Archipelago (Philippines, etc)
Published in 1896 in London by Edward Stanford. This map shows Hainan Island as the southernmost territory of China. This map also shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines. This digital reproduction is from Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps, Inc.

Source: https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/41399/Asiatic_Archipelago_Philippines_etc/Stanford.html

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1897 Hidographia Carta General del Oceano
Published in 1897 in Madrid by the Seccion de Hidrografia. This map shows the Spratlys as part of the Philippines.

Source:
(National Library of Australia (Bib ID 1449962, map-rm3380)).

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1897 Hidographia Carta General del Oceano (Zoom Image)
Published in 1897 in Madrid by the Seccion de Hidrografia.

Source:
(National Library of Australia (Bib ID 1449962, map-rm3380)).

“Maps merely constitute information which varies in accuracy from case to case; of themselves, and by virtue solely of their existence, they cannot constitute a territorial title… Of course, in some cases maps may acquire such legal force, but where this is so the legal force does not arise solely from their intrinsic merits: it is because such maps fall unto the category of physical expressions of the will of the State or States concerned…” Burkina Faso/Republic of Mali (1986 I.C.J. 554)