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Charles Darwin once referred to Alexander von Homboldt as “The greatest scientific traveler who ever lived”. Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt (1769-1859) was a scientific German explorer and naturalist who travelled to most parts of Latin America and the world in search of modern botanical geography. He is known as the last Renaissance man to have substantial portion of human knowledge. His theories outline a scientific approach to harmonize nature with the diversity of the physical world. He viewed many aspects of nature holistically. His methodologies and findings were known as the “Humboldtian science”.

Adventures and Acclamation of Humboldt

Born in 1769 in Germany, Humboldt started exploration in around 1769 and travelled from Spain to the Amazon Rivers. In dangerous environment with uncanny conditions he travelled with many scientists to discover the unexplored parts of nature. During his travel he experienced uninhabited places in teh wild, lived with several native tribe like Maipures and Atures, studied the geography of plants and mountains and even the climatic conditions causing atmospheric disturbances.

He rediscovered the Latin America based on scientific and social research and suggested advancement in production, trade and technology to enhance them. He collected over 60,000 plant, animal and mineral specimens to study. Because of his extensive research and exploration some governments ordered arrest warrants in case of his entry in their territory like the exploration of Casiquiare Canal and Rio Negro brought suspicion within the Portuguese rulers.

He wrote a five-volume work on his life in Kosmos (Cosmos 1845-62) describing his scientific knowledge of geography and geology. In 1860 the "Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for Nature Research and Travel” was established to provide support to German scientists. It now supports foreign and local researchers in researching ventures and has also awarded 44 Nobel Prize winners. The Humboldt Prize is also given by this foundation to internationally renowned scientists and scholars.

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This entry was posted by admin on Mittwoch, April 13th, 2011 at 12:34 and is filed under Famous Anthropologists. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.