The Piri Reis Map of 1513 (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Norman J. W. Thrower (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is an excellent and important work of scholarship. McIntosh is to be commended on the breadth and discipline of the research that is reflected in his well written book."--Louis De Vorsey, Past President, Society for the History of Discoveries

Product Description

One of the most beautiful maps to survive the Great Age of Discoveries, the 1513 world map drawn by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis is also one of the most mysterious. Gregory McIntosh has uncovered new evidence in the map that shows it to be among the most important ever made.

This detailed study offers new commentary and explication of a major milestone in cartography. Correcting earlier work of Paul Kahle and pointing out the traps that have caught subsequent scholars, McIntosh disproves the dubious conclusion that the Reis map embodied Columbus's Third Voyage map of 1498, showing that it draws instead on the Second Voyage of 1493-1496. He also refutes the popular misinterpretation that Reis's depictions of Antarctica are evidence of either ancient civilizations or extraterrestrial visitation. McIntosh brings together all that has been previously known about the map and also assembles for the first time the translations of all inscriptions on the map and analyzes all place-names given for New World and Atlantic islands. His work clarifies long-standing mysteries and opens up new ways of looking at the history of exploration.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press (July 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0820321575
• ISBN-13: 978-0820321578
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #294,211 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good book, June 26, 2001

By A Customer

If you are interested in maps and the history of the discovery of the americas this book can be recommended. It is sometimes difficult to read. The pages with the maps are not always in the same place where the maps are discussed, which is quite inconvienent. I learnt a lot about the early maps of america and the authors presented their ideas convincingly. The authors should have spent less pages on debunking obvouisly outlandish ideas. All in all I enjoyed the book and the detailed maps in it.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Quite disappointed by this book, November 1, 2005

By	J. W. S. BUUREN "Hans van Buuren" (Utrecht, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I bought this book I wanted to find out what the truth is as far as the Antarctic area on the Piri Reis map is concerned. The fact this book was written by a cartographer could shed some light on the issue. Reading the book I became very disappointed by it. The writer knows his maps, that is for sure. He describes the map and the errors found in it in great deal and you can learn a lot of that. But the writer also seems biased on the Antarctic subject. His pictures seem to prove the opposite be he still claims the Antarctic region on the Piri Reis map only coincidentally resembles the real thing.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the traps of appearence, July 16, 2007

By	Licia (Italy) - See all my reviews

I have bought this book as a present for a close friend who's very keen on
the subject and I have translated it into Italian.
I must admit I did not know anything about Piri Reis until he spoke to me about the subject and I did not know anything about cartography too. However, I have soon got involved and I appreciated the translations of the inscriptions on the map and the description of Colombo's journeys and personality, but also the objectiveness of the author.
The book is written quite fluently although quite ripetitive at times and it is obviously very technical.As the general trend is to stop in front of appearence, being an easier way to live ,this book represents a good chance to go deeper into a part of our history and definitely learn something interesting.
There is no other similar and recent evidence available on the market about this subject, therefore I would recommend it to amateurs and beginners like me.