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From the sixteenth century onwards, noteworthy geographical works were produced by Pîrî Reis, In 1511, Pîrî Reis drew his first map. This map is part of the world map prepared on a large scale. It was drawn on the basis of his rich and detailed drafts an in addition, European maps including Columbus' map of America. This first Ottoman map which included preliminary information about the New World represents south western Europe, north western Africa, south eastern and Central America. It is a portalano, without latitude and longitude lines but with lines delineating coasts and islands. Pîrî Reis drew his second map and presented it to Süleymân the Magnificent in 1528. only the part which contains the North Atlantic Ocean and the then newly discovered areas of Northern and Central America is extant. Pîrî Reis also wrote a book entitled Kitâb-ı Bahriye (Book of the Sea) (1521). In this work, Pîrî Reis presents drawings and maps of the cities on the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, and gives extensive information about navigation and nautical astronomy. Admiral Seydî Ali Reis (d. 1562), who wrote the work in Turkish titled al-Muhit (The Ocean), was a notable figure of the period in maritime geography. This work contains astronomical and geographical information necessary for long sea voyages and his own observations about the Indian Ocean.

Another work of the sixteenth century which contains information about the geographical discoveries and the New World is the book entitled Târih-i Hind-i Garbî (History of Western India). This work, whose author is unknown, was presented to Sultan Murâd III in 1583. It was based on Spanish and Italian geographical sources. It is important in showing that the geographical discoveries of the West were known to the Ottomans. The work has three parts; the third part which is the most important and which comprises two thirds of the whole book, relates the adventures of Columbus, Balboa, Magellan, Cretes, and Pizarro during the sixty years from the discovery of America in 1492 until 1552 (Goodrich, 1990). Apparently, cartography was organized as a profession in the Ottoman Empire, for example, in the seventeenth century, fifteen individuals were occupied with the art of surveying, in eight locations in Istanbul and nearby areas.

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