In 1513, an Ottoman admiral named Piri Reis created a world map that initially puzzled the world. The map appears to depict parts of South America with surprising accuracy, and according to some claims, even shows Antarctica centuries before it was officially discovered. In this deep dive, we examine the real history of the Piri Reis Map, where its source material came from, how it was constructed, and why it became a magnet for speculation, pseudohistory, and fringe theories. Using historical knowledge and scholarship, we separate what the map genuinely tells us from what later generations wanted it to say. Was this evidence of lost ancient knowledge? A misunderstood Renaissance artifact? Or a case study in how modern myths are built around historical objects?
Dec 19 202523 m