Piri Re'is was a prominent cartographer from the time of the Ottoman Empire. He was the first to make a complete world map along with detailed information.
The Ottomans experienced a period of heyday between the 15th and 16th centuries. The progress of the country was not only supported by the ruling sultans, but also the intellectuals. One of the Turkish scientists whose services were great in that period was Pir bin Haji Muhammad Re'is or better known as Piri Re'is.
Unlike today where the existence of satellites really helps people project the Earth's surface in as much detail as possible, in the past, making maps was done by actually circling the world.
This is what Piri does. As quoted from the KESAN Islamic application, Thursday (7/4/2022) the world map was first compiled by geographers and Muslim travelers. Muslims have started visiting various parts of the world since the 7th century AD or 2 Hijriah. To note, the 'Google Maps' of that era, aka the first road map, was made in Baghdad in the 8th century AD.
Prior to his fame as a geographer and cartography expert, Piri started his career in the maritime world. Piri took part with his uncle who was a famous sailor, Kemal Reis, on various expeditions.
One of the expeditions that Piri carried out with his uncle was a military aid mission in 1487 to Granada, the last Islamic empire in Andalusia (Spain). In addition to carrying out rescue missions in the Iberian Peninsula, Piri and his uncle also fought against the Spanish and Venetian fleets between 1500-1502.
In 1511, the uncle died in a battle. Piri then returned to Gallipoli. In his hometown, he retired and was involved in research and wrote a treatise on the science of map design (cartography). His studies and experience in the maritime world up to that point were enough for him to become a capable cartographer.
In 1513, Piri managed to make his first world map. On the world map he made, The New World or the Americas had been found. His first world map was titled The Book of Sea Lore.
About four years later, he presented the map to Sultan Selim I. At that time, he was following the sultan's military campaign to conquer the Mamluk dynasty.
Ten years after her uncle's death, Piri returns to the battlefield to defend her country's sovereignty. He fought in the Siege of Rhodes Island and the mission was a success.
Piri's career is getting brighter. Two years later, he was trusted to be the captain of the ship that brought Prime Minister Ibrahim Pasha to Egypt. In 1547, he was appointed admiral and thus entitled to the title Re'is. Piri led the Ottoman Turkish maritime forces operating from Egypt to the Indian Ocean.
When he was approaching 90 years old, Piri chose to return to Egypt. Some time later, the Governor of Basrah Kubad Pasha reportedly led a military campaign to drive the Portuguese from the east of the Arabian Peninsula, but the admiral refused to support the mission.
The Sultan of Turkey considered it an attempt of defiance. The accusation is compounded by the fact that Piri returned to Egypt when the Portuguese were still entrenched in the Arabian Gulf. Malang, a figure who served for decades in the navy of the Ottoman Caliphate was also executed in 1553.
Even though his life ended tragically, his name and reputation have remained fragrant even into modern times. Currently, a number of warships and submarines of the Turkish Navy are given the name Piri Re'is in honor of his figure.
Piri has also made a new world map in 1528 AD with amazing detail equipped with the island of Greenland that has not been found on previous maps.
The most detailed world map that is similar to the map we know today is a map made by Ali Macar, a sailor of the Ottoman Empire. This map is dated 1567 AD, and is made in great detail as if Ali Macar was viewing the Earth from the Moon.