Ancient Explorers and Their Amazing Maps by Leslie Trager

This book analyses western maps made between the 13th to 17th centuries and shows them to be copies of maps made by ancient explorers going back as far as 5000 years. Thirteenth through fifteenth century Portolan Charts of the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and the Atlantic coasts of Europe and North Africa reflect geography going back 5000 years and are as accurate as a Mercator Projection. Sixteenth and seventeenth century maps of North America, South America, Greenland, and Antarctica are found to be copies of maps surveyed about 3700 years ago. The book discusses the technology available to these ancient explorers for making such maps and suggests civilizations as candidates responsible for creating them.