1375: "The Piri Reis Map"

HistoryPodcastScience
Written By JC

Interesting Things with JC #1375: "The Piri Reis Map" – A 16th-century map drawn on gazelle skin holds coastlines that match the known world...and one that shouldn’t exist. Its lines spark both historical clarity and centuries of debate.

Curriculum - Episode Anchor

Episode Title: The Piri Reis Map

Episode Number: 1375

Host: JC

Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners

Subject Area: History, Geography, Cartography, Historical Inquiry

Lesson Overview

Learning Objectives:

  • Define the historical significance of the Piri Reis map in the context of early 16th-century exploration.

  • Compare differing historical interpretations of the southern coastline depicted on the map.

  • Analyze how Piri Reis’s sources contributed to both the accuracy and distortions present in the map.

  • Explain why the survival of the map fragment offers insight into the preservation of historical artifacts.

Key Vocabulary

  1. Cartography (kar-TAH-gruh-fee) — The science and art of making maps; Piri Reis was a master of cartography.

  2. Gazelle Skin Parchment (guh-ZELL skin PAR-chuh-ment) — A type of prepared animal hide used as a writing surface; the Piri Reis map was drawn on this material.

  3. Antarctica Hypothesis (an-TARK-tik-uh hy-PAH-thuh-sis) — The theory that part of the Piri Reis map may depict an ice-free Antarctic coast.

  4. Age of Discovery (AYJ of dis-KUV-er-ee) — A historical period from the 15th to 17th centuries when European powers explored and mapped much of the world.

  5. Topkapi Palace (TOP-kah-pi PAL-iss) — The historic palace in Istanbul where the map was rediscovered in 1929.

Narrative Core

Open – In 1929, scholars cataloguing artifacts at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul uncovered a surviving fragment of a remarkable 16th-century world map.

Info – This map, dated 1513, was created by Ottoman admiral and cartographer Piri Reis, drawing on Portuguese, Arab, and even Columbus’s own charts.

Details – The fragment accurately depicts parts of Europe, Africa, and South America, but controversially appears to show land far to the south, prompting speculation about early knowledge of Antarctica.

Reflection – While most historians attribute this feature to distorted early mapping of South America, the mystery has fueled debates about historical navigation and lost knowledge.

Closing – These are interesting things, with JC.

Podcast cover for Interesting Things with JC #1375, showing a 16th-century nautical map fragment with ships, compass roses, and coastlines beside the title ‘The Piri Reis Map.

Transcript

In 1929, a group of scholars cataloguing artifacts at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul uncovered something unusual, a surviving fragment of a world map drawn on gazelle skin parchment.

Its maker was an Ottoman admiral and cartographer named Piri Reis (PEE ree RAY ees).

The date on the map, 1513, places it just two decades after Columbus’s first voyage. Piri Reis himself claimed in notes along the margins that his sources included maps from Portuguese explorers, records from Arab navigators, and even one belonging to Christopher Columbus.

This fragment covers parts of the Atlantic Ocean, the west coast of Europe and Africa, and the eastern coast of South America. It is notable for its surprisingly accurate proportions for the time.

Where the story gets complicated is in the southern portion. The surviving fragment seems to show land stretching farther south than South America. Some have suggested this depicts the northern coastline of Antarctica, without ice. That idea fueled decades of speculation. How could a 16th century map show a continent that was not formally sighted until 1820, and without its ice sheet, which has been in place for thousands of years?

The majority of historians point out that this “Antarctica” could simply be an exaggerated extension of South America, a common feature in early maps before the continent’s true southern tip was well charted. Piri Reis’s own notes describe uncertainties in his sources, which makes such distortions unsurprising.

The accuracy of the map’s known coastlines likely reflects the navigational skill of the Age of Discovery and access to earlier charts, not secret knowledge of ice free Antarctic shores. Still, its blend of credible cartography, mystery, and the admiral’s detailed annotations keep it a subject of debate among geographers, historians, and enthusiasts.

Its survival is a quiet reminder that much of history hangs by a thread, sometimes depending on nothing more than what gets rolled up, set aside, and forgotten until the right set of eyes finds it again.

These are interesting things, with JC.

Student Worksheet

  1. Who created the Piri Reis map and in what year?

  2. What materials were used to create the Piri Reis map?

  3. Which three main sources did Piri Reis claim to use for his map?

  4. What is the primary reason most historians reject the Antarctica theory?

  5. Explain why the survival of the Piri Reis map fragment is historically significant.

Teacher Guide

Estimated Time: 45–60 minutes

Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy: Introduce students to the vocabulary terms using visual aids, such as images of gazelle skin parchment and early maps, to enhance comprehension.

Anticipated Misconceptions:

  • Students may assume the Piri Reis map proves Antarctica was discovered in the 16th century.

  • Students might believe all early maps were wildly inaccurate; in reality, some coastal areas were charted with surprising precision.

Discussion Prompts:

  • Why do you think some historical mysteries continue to capture public imagination?

  • How do historians decide between competing interpretations of evidence?

Differentiation Strategies:

  • ESL: Provide vocabulary lists with translations and simplified definitions.

  • IEP: Break tasks into smaller steps, provide guided notes.

  • Gifted: Assign research comparing Piri Reis to other cartographers of the Age of Discovery.

Extension Activities:

  • Research another mysterious historical artifact and present findings to the class.

  • Create a map overlay comparing the Piri Reis map to modern satellite imagery.

Cross-Curricular Connections:

  • Physics: Navigation techniques and compass use.

  • Sociology: Impact of exploration on cultural exchange.

  • Ethics: Preservation of cultural heritage.

Quiz

  1. When was the Piri Reis map created?
    A. 1492
    B. 1513
    C. 1525
    D. 1820
    Answer: B

  2. Where was the Piri Reis map rediscovered?
    A. Hagia Sophia
    B. Topkapi Palace
    C. Library of Alexandria
    D. Palace of Versailles
    Answer: B

  3. What material was the Piri Reis map drawn on?
    A. Papyrus
    B. Linen
    C. Gazelle skin parchment
    D. Cotton canvas
    Answer: C

  4. Which of the following was NOT one of Piri Reis’s claimed sources?
    A. Portuguese explorers
    B. Arab navigators
    C. Columbus’s maps
    D. Dutch merchants
    Answer: D

  5. What is the most widely accepted explanation for the southern landmass on the Piri Reis map?
    A. Ice-free Antarctica
    B. Atlantis
    C. Extended South America
    D. Australia
    Answer: C

Assessment

  1. Describe how Piri Reis’s use of multiple sources contributed to both the strengths and weaknesses of his map.

  2. Evaluate the importance of the Piri Reis map in understanding early modern navigation.

Rubric:
3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful
2 = Partial or missing detail
1 = Inaccurate or vague

Standards Alignment

U.S. Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.2 — Determine the central ideas of a primary or secondary source; the episode provides multiple interpretations of the Piri Reis map.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-12.2 — Write informative/explanatory texts; students can create analytical essays on map interpretation.

  • C3.D2.Geo.1.9-12 — Use geographic data to pose and answer questions about spatial patterns.

  • NGSS HS-ESS2-2 — Analyze geoscience data to make claims about Earth’s history; relevant to discussion of Antarctic ice sheets.

International Equivalents

  • UK National Curriculum – History KS4 — Understanding how evidence is used to make historical claims.

  • Cambridge IGCSE Geography (0460) — Map skills and analysis of geographic representations.

  • IB DP History — Evaluation of historical sources and interpretations.

Show Notes

This episode explores the Piri Reis map, a remarkable 1513 chart created by an Ottoman admiral using a blend of European and Arab sources, and possibly one from Columbus himself. Notable for its accuracy in depicting known coastlines, it has sparked controversy due to its portrayal of a mysterious southern landmass. While some have speculated this shows an ice-free Antarctica centuries before its documented discovery, most historians conclude it is an exaggerated extension of South America. The story provides a rich entry point for examining the Age of Discovery, map-making techniques, and how artifacts survive through time to challenge our understanding of history.

References

JC https://jimconnors.org
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