Piri Reis

Piri Reis was a 16th-century Ottoman admiral, navigator, geographer and cartographer who is best known for his world map of 1513, which is the oldest known Turkish map showing the New World and one of the oldest maps of America still in existence. He also wrote a book of navigation, the Kitab-ı Bahriye, which contains detailed information on the Mediterranean coast, islands, straits, and ports, as well as early navigational techniques and charts. Piri Reis was born around 1470 in Gallipoli, an important Ottoman naval base on the Dardanelles. His father was Hacı Mehmed Piri, a Turk from Karaman, and his uncle was Kemal Reis, a famous corsair and admiral of the Ottoman navy. Piri Reis followed his uncle's footsteps and became a privateer and seafarer at a young age, participating in many naval wars and expeditions against the Spanish, the Genoese and the Venetians. He also traveled to Egypt, Arabia, India and China, collecting maps and geographical information from various sources. In 1513, he compiled his first world map, using about 20 foreign charts and maps, including one by Christopher Columbus, as well as his own observations and knowledge. The map shows the western coasts of Europe and Africa, the eastern coasts of North and South America, and a part of Antarctica, which was not officially discovered until the 19th century. The map also contains colorful illustrations and annotations, describing the lands, peoples, animals, and plants of the different regions. The map was presented to Sultan Selim I, who was impressed by its accuracy and beauty. In 1528, Piri Reis drew a second world map, of which only a small fragment survives, showing Greenland and parts of North America and Central America. He also revised and expanded his Kitab-ı Bahriye, adding more maps and information, and dedicating it to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Piri Reis continued his naval career, serving as the captain of the imperial fleet and the governor of several provinces. He fought in the Ottoman–Portuguese conflicts in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, and captured several Portuguese fortresses and ships. He also explored the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, and visited Mecca and Medina. In 1553, he was sent to Egypt to assist the Ottoman governor Kubad Pasha in the siege of Hormuz, a strategic island controlled by the Portuguese. However, he found his ships in poor condition and decided to lift the siege and return to Egypt. This angered Kubad Pasha, who accused him of disobedience and treason, and ordered his execution by beheading. Piri Reis was around 87 years old when he died. His maps and books were preserved in the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, where they were rediscovered in the 20th century and attracted worldwide attention and admiration. Piri Reis is regarded as one of the greatest cartographers and navigators of the Ottoman Empire and the Islamic world, and his works are valuable sources of historical and geographical knowledge.