(1) Piri Reis was a great commander in the Ottoman Turkish navy. He is best known, however, as the author of a famous book on navigation The Science of Ships and Sea Travel. His world maps are even more famous, and he is recognized today for his important contributions to geography (2) In 1525, he presented a copy of his book, Kitab-Al-Bahrye to Sultan Suleiman, the Turkish ruler. It gives detailed information on navigation and contains charts describing in great detail the important ports and cities of the Mediterranean sea. (3) Although he was not an explorer like Christopher Columbus, Piri was an expert cartographer. He used a map of Columbus, as well as other older Arab, Chinese, Indian, Spanish and Greek maps, to create the most accurate map of the known world of that time. A small part of one of Piri's first world maps was discovered in 1929 at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. It was drawn in 1513 on gazelle skin. Copies of Piri's book and maps can be found in many libraries and museums around the world. including the Topkapi Palace, the British Museum in London, and the National Library of France in Paris.
When did Piri Reis give a copy of Kitab-Al- Bahriye to Sultan Suleiman?