India below and beyond the Ganges

This map was made by Nicolas Sanson (1600 – 1667) in 1654 and published in 1697.

In comparison to his Dutch contemporaries, Nicolas Sanson (born in Abbeville, France) is considered the pioneer of the French school of cartography, which revolutionised map-making based on precision, scientific and historical narratives. He produced more than 300 maps in his lifetime.

This map showcasing the geographical extent to which the Mughal Empire (1526-1857) prevailed in the Indian subcontinent was produced by Sanson in 1654. It was published by his son Guillaume Sanson after Sanson’s death.

To read more on early maps, click here.