Pedro Reinel

Pedro Reinel was a prominent 16th-century Portuguese cartographer who played a crucial role in the Age of Discovery. He created some of the earliest nautical charts based on the real-world observations of Portuguese explorers.

He created the first known signed portolan chart of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean in 1504. This was a groundbreaking map that accurately depicted the coastlines of Africa and Brazil.

A portolan chart is an early nautical map based on compass directions and estimated distances observed by sailors. Reinel's portolan charts were famous for incorporating the wind rose lines and detailed coastal labels used by navigators.

Reinel was appointed the chief cartographer at the Casa da Índia, the Portuguese royal agency responsible for managing trade and exploration. His maps directly informed the voyages of explorers seeking new maritime routes to India and the Spice Islands.