Coğrafyayı Okumak: Kitab-ı Bahriye Nüshaları Üzerine Sistematik Bir Değerlendirme.

Piri Reis leads the study of historical geography by Kitab-i Bahriye, one of the most important books in geography. Piri Reis explained and mapped all of the Mediterranean coasts and islands with their geographical features in the Kitab-i Bahriye that he navigated by following anticlockwise route, starting and ending at Canakkale-Turkey. This unique work is a source for determination of the geographical, economic, social and cultural features of the period, and it is also example of Turkish and World historical geography. Kitab-i Bahriye is an official document of its era that it was presented to the empire, by the information it contains about the geographical information of all the Mediterranean coasts, and the seas, oceans, navigation, maritime, cartography, astronomy and climate. By these features, it can be said that it was the first geography book in Ottoman civilization. Kitab-i Bahriye is a pioneering and innovative work; therefore, it was reproduced in large numbers as parts, chapters and books. Despite it is not known which of these copies is the original book, it is considered that two copies were second-copyright dated 932/1526 and presented to Sultan Suleyman I. In the study, the copies of Kitab-i Bahriye, Istanbul Suleymaniye Library Ayasofya 2612 (A.2612) and Istanbul Topkapi Palace Museum Treasure Collection 642 (TSMK.642) were taken as basis. Two copies of Kitab-i Bahriye were evaluated for determination in terms of language, map drawings, content and technique, and differences. As a result of the research it was concluded that, A.2612 copy was made before, the copies were copied from each other and the text sections were the same; considering that both copies were prepared close to each other, they were prepared to be presented to the two sultans, Sultan Suleyman I. and Sultan Selim II. or Sultan Murat III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]