Alexandria School of Medicine

Alexander von Humboldt

Portrait of Alexander von Humboldt, 1843

Alexander von Humboldt (14 September 1769 – 6 May 1859) was a Prussian polymath, geographer, naturalist, explorer, and influential proponent of Romanticism in science. His work laid the foundation for the field of biogeography and influenced the development of the natural sciences in the 19th century.

Early Life and Education

Alexander von Humboldt was born in Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia. He was the younger brother of Wilhelm von Humboldt, a philosopher and linguist. The Humboldt family estate, Schloss Tegel, was a center of intellectual activity.

Schloss Tegel, the Humboldt family estate

Humboldt studied at the University of Göttingen and later at the Mining Academy of Freiberg, where he developed a keen interest in geology and mineralogy.

Scientific Expeditions

Humboldt is best known for his extensive explorations in Latin America between 1799 and 1804. During this time, he traveled through the Spanish Empire, including present-day Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, and Cuba.

Map of Alexander von Humboldt's expedition

South American Journey

Humboldt's journey through South America was marked by his ascent of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, which was then thought to be the highest mountain in the world. His observations and collections of plant and animal specimens contributed significantly to the fields of botany and zoology.

Humboldt and Bonpland on Chimborazo

Mexico and the United States

After his South American expedition, Humboldt traveled to Mexico, where he studied the country's geography, economy, and culture. He later visited the United States, where he met with President Thomas Jefferson.

Contributions to Science

Humboldt's work laid the groundwork for the field of biogeography, the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. He was one of the first to propose that South America and Africa were once joined, a precursor to the theory of continental drift.

Publications

Humboldt's major work, Kosmos, attempted to unify the various branches of scientific knowledge. His writings inspired a generation of scientists, including Charles Darwin.

Legacy

Humboldt's influence extended beyond science to the arts and humanities. He was a key figure in the Weimar Classicism movement, which sought to harmonize the arts and sciences.

Weimar Classicism

Related Pages

• Wilhelm von Humboldt
• Biogeography
• Romanticism
• Kosmos (Humboldt book)

Gallery

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  Alexander von Humboldt

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  Humboldt and Bonpland in the jungle

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  Canal do Cassiquiare

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  Chiranthodendron pentadactylon

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  Mina de Valenciana, Guanajuato

Alexandria School of Medicine

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  Illustration from the Nuremberg Chronicles

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  Ancient Library of Alexandria

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  Antiochus and Stratonice by David