The Atlantic map created by the Ottoman general Piri Re'is around 1500 has long been a puzzle: the east coast of South America is depicted with astonishing precision—much more accurately than Europeans could have known at the time. It wasn't until 200 years later that Portuguese maps reached a similar level of detail. The map of Piri Re'is proves to be a product of the geographical and nautical knowledge of the Arabs before Columbus. Since the 12th century, Arab sailors have attempted to cross the "Sea of Darkness" westward. They followed reports of riches on the other side, but they also trusted their highly developed navigation skills. Centuries before the Europeans, Arabs were able to reliably determine longitude and latitude and create accurate maps. Susanne Billig introduces readers to Arab astronomy, navigation, cartography, and seafaring through numerous illustrations.