Who is Alexander von Humboldt? - George Mehler

[@robertr.hasspacher7731]

I guess you could say "He's underestimated because he's such a Humboldt guy!"

[@Drvelasco45]

He's perhaps not know in the US, but here in South America we are very grateful for his work and there are many institutions and monuments named after him.

[@naeyoo42]

This Man is amazing, they should teach about him in schools. I'm surprised he's not well known because he is probably one of the most important scientists who ever lived, discovering whole other climates to help us understand our world and her nature

[@c.s.hayden3022]

And just the whole significance of his “Cosmos” magnum opus, how that made an impact on a lot of American artists at the time.

[@ravindranathhospital1362]

Cannot believe this video only got like a 200,000 views. Such a great scientist.

[@juanguerrero5626]

Here in Peru he is very Popular and respected, there are Scools, parks and even streets with his name and more over the Peruvian Humboldt Current , put us in the top 5 of the fishing countries.

[@panie445]

*Schools

[@mamanature61]

It's hard to believe one man accomplished so much and pioneered in so many fields during his lifetime. That was very informative and well done. I will definitely look for a way to integrate this into my lessons.

[@deandsouza]

I think that, at the time he climbed it, Mt Chimborazo was believed to be the highest mountain in the world. To climb it, with all his scientific equipment and no modern climbing gear, was some feat!

[@krakuf5239]

It's actually true if you believe "the highest" means "the furthest from the center of the Earth".

[@varelion]

Also interesting: While in South America, his shoes were destroyed by sharp bamboo sprouts. So he decided to abandon them and walk barefoot. That doesn't mean that the bamboo sprouts had disappeared.

[@GamelutioN1]

I live a couple of blocks away from the University of Alexander von Humboldt (Universidad Alejandro de Humboldt) here in Caracas, Venezuela.

[@RhondaFizzleflint]

And I live "near" the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

[@GamelutioN1]

Rhonda Fizzleflint Nice! :)

[@mcyrus27]

I study in The University Alejandro Humboldt here In Ccs xD!

[@Lena-fc9ce]

In Germany, Humboldt's home country, he is very well known, in part because of the many parks and buildings named after him. We have the very big Humboldt university in Berlin, for example. It makes me kind of sad that you would say he is forgotten everywhere except the scientific community, when clearly many countires remember him and his name well. A little more research could have fixed that. The english speaking countries are not the whole world, you know?

[@optigana]

Lena very well said! the english speaking world is not the whole world!

[@alejandroojeda6604]

You're right, the problem is that it does happen in other countries, I'm from Spain and I'm sure mostspanish people wouldn't recognise this scientist

[@Lena-fc9ce]

Yes, that is a problem, however, it's not the one being discussed here. What I was talking was the way English speaking nations assume that what they know and remember is also known and remembered in the rest of the public's minds. But often this isn't true, as many people in this comment section can tell you, because Humboldt is widely remembered in many countries, while the video is trying to act as if only "the keepers of the history of science and exploration" or something like that remembered him.

[@alejandroojeda6604]

Lena I've been in Berlin in front of Humboldt univetsity and I would expect German people to know him. It isn't a surprise either that Peruvian people know him. In conclusion the fact is that in those places which Humboldt didn't travel to he's surprisingly very unknown.

[@Lena-fc9ce]

That is still not what were talking about, which is Anglo- and Americocentrism.

[@j0nnyb0y54]

When something or someone is forgotten, they can always be remembered.

[@KonyCurrentYear]

These old Ted-Ed videos were much better than the new ones.

[@e254e_2.0]

how

[@learnspeakthink]

Yes, He's famous in South America. It reminds me my old lesson of Geography, the Humboldt current.

[@Captleon]

muchas gracias soy de Bolivia y este es uno de los mejores canales sobre educacion que haya visto thanks a lot im from Bolivia and this is one of the best educational channels ive ever seen

[@av4020]

I'm currently studying at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Alexander von Humboldt also studied in this University. I am living in Humboldtstraße, named after him.

[@judekanawati7467]

Recently we were on a family vacation to Germany and Netherlands. Before our departure, a relative of ours, who happens to be a language teacher, recommended us to check our Humboldt Institute in the city of Heidelberg in Germany. Instead, we visited Humboldt University in Berlin. I gotta say, the place looks soooo amazing and the architecture looks exactly like we’re living in the 18th and 19th century! I personally recommend you all to visit these two places. Surely I’ll find time to Heidelberg city as well. It’s full of ancient castles and ruins everywhere!

[@jorgebassi5531]

Não podemos permitir que mentes brilhantes sejam esquecidas, parabéns pelo vídeo !

[@robertg.1162]

Lots of stuff named after him, e.g. a Berlin University. There's no way he will be forgotten in the Berlin region any time soon.

[@gracekatharine]

Had Dr. Mehler as my professor last semester at Temple University. I'm only a freshman but I truly think I'll graduate knowing he was my favorite professor.

[@txikilin]

I highly recommend two biography books about this man. "Humboldt and the Cosmos" by Douglas Botting and "The Humboldt Current"· by Aaron Sachs.

[@abhilashsundaram2432]

Excellent video. True and saddening that Humboldt, a terrific scientist, has been lost in the pages of history. I was recently reading a book on Geographical Thoughts where i came across Humboldt’s marvellous feat. I’m sure he’s very famous in Germany, but the point of this video is to get Humboldt his due recognition in other countries too. Like in India 🇮🇳 (my home country) we didn’t read about Humboldt, except for the Peru current part, in our books.

[@BlackBeardDelight187]

I never heard of Humboldt till I read Measuring The Word. Still one of the most best novels I've ever read

[@marianaferreira597]

I teach Ecology in grad schools and I was talk about him.... people have to recognize how amazing was Alexander von Humboldt

[@Zwerggoldhamster]

There's even a penguin named after him^^

[@dreamgirl-yk3ou]

that’s true (1780 winters ball and the schuyler sisters are the envy of all yo)

[@cbrusharmy]

YES! I was so excited to read the title of this video. Thanks for this lovely homage.

[@lakhanpalsinghchouhan5639]

Founder of modern Physical Geography

[@Guronie]

Kosmos was very popular in Britain and America. In 1849 a German newspaper commented that in England two of the three different translations were made by women, "while in Germany most of the men do not understand it." Beilage zu No. 102 der (Augsburger) Allgemeinen Zeitung from 12. April 1849

[@letsHugElefanten]

There's a great novel called Die Vermessung der Welt (engl. "Measuring the world) by Daniel Kehlmann which is about the life of Humboldt and the mathematician C.F. Gauß. It's only based on his life and not all the facts are correct but it's a really good book and still a good way to learn a bit more about his life :)

[@varelion]

I wouldn't recommend this book. It makes fun of Humboldt and was written by a very young novelist who apparently wanted to topple a hero from his pedestal. Many deliberate imputations into Humboldt's character, many invented statements and false narratives. Do not take this for an autobiography! It's the cynical view of a decadent generation on the huge achievements of their forefathers. Far better and made by a grown-up author: 'The Invention of Nature' by Andrea Wulf.

[@letsHugElefanten]

@@varelion sad that you didn't like this book but as i said in my original comment, it's a novel and not a biography, so it was never meant to be 100% factual. also i checked and daniel kehlmann is only 3 years younger than andrea wulf, so not sure what you mean by "very young" and "grown up" here.

[@mcyrus27]

My college is name after him! And I had no idea who he was so this was an amazing video, thanks!

[@lsbonfm]

I'm a brazilian geography student and never heard about Humboldt until I got into geography classes in college.

[@yagzcaparl8505]

bro you helpt us to our geography project god bless you

[@samikshapathania3786]

I knew him already he also gave SPECIES AREA RELATIONSHIP which is in our biology textbook but i didn't knew about his other achievements which are mentioned in this video... but now i know... nice representation..👍

[@AlejandroIrausquin]

Hello from Venezuela. To whom should I send the Spanish subtitles to be added to this video?

[@Awesomotron2k]

You forgot the part where he would not only describe local flora and fauna in South America, but on occasion would also ingest them. I do remember an anecdote about him trying different frogs to conclude which of them where intoxicating in nature.

[@8bw]

I only knew him because of the ocean current in Peru. Thanks!

[@000000AEA000000]

great short overview! very good summation.

[@elkaiser001]

my school in maturin venezuela was named after him, also the largest cave in my state was discovered by him, the Guacharo's Cave

[@mcyrus27]

Verga el no descubrió la cueva del guacharo si la visito y tal pero ya! Hahahah Saludos from UAH Caracas!

[@bakewithela8327]

I love this. It's great to know who's the genius behind certain discoveries and research.. My favorite scientist being Michael Faraday and Richard Dawkins.

[@RWAsur]

Damn, I found this while randomly looking up the Humboldt Lilly! I'm glad to know it!

[@o4fakseik]

The university is named after his brother, Wilhelm, who was a major philosopher, linguist & educator. But there are plenty of things named after Alexander, e.g. the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which gives academic scholarships & exchanges, recipients include the last 2 US Energy secretaries.

[@gdinoteimoso]

Geographer. Humboldt was a geographer. The finest one.

[@naeyoo42]

Thanks TED Ed

[@MegaEpicLlama]

Also in Colombia! The Humboldt institute is one of the most (if not the most) important biological research institute in our country!

[@templenature]

Excellent, thank you! I've been reading Wulf's book, The Invention of Nature, so now I will be using this video for the class I teach on Freethinkers where I am particularly interested in Humboldt's inspiration for John Muir and secular naturalism.

[@orlandosanchez8123]

The neighborhood where i was born and raised in in Chicago was named after him, til this day his statue stands in the park

[@nicolejaja270]

I think he's not well known as he might. I just watched the movie and searched for him, I thought there was no KZbin videl talking about him until i found this, thanks!

[@afrikasmith1049]

You learn something new if you look hard enough, especially on KZbin.

[@ADZ01982]

Afrika Smith never even heard of him untill now

[@jayendarsubramaniam3241]

I revere him. I came to know about him while studying geographical thought

[@jobushin]

Humboldt was someone that people from Tenerife and specially from the city of La Orotava do appreciate. Why? due to a short but intense layover there in his way to America

[@studiosandi]

I'm in the process of starting a business making furniture out of recycled materials. I wanted to call it Alexander Von Humboldt's. My husband talked me out of it though because there are a lot of things already named after him.

[@Simaisan]

Waw ! This is really awesome ! I had never heard of him despite how amazing he was according to this video !

[@Melissandrel]

Loved it ! Those Ted-Ed are amazing !

[@corneliuspildershmidt]

I love Humboldt!!! this video makes me so happy

[@Zralf]

good to know.

[@Ploppism]

I double checked it - the name actually refers to both Wilhelm and Alexander.

[@friarhill]

And he gained popularity with the publishing of the book "Die Vermessung der Erde" (Measuring the world) by Daniel kehlmann, which quite recently has been turned into a movie - sadly only in german though. It's a fictional double-biography of mathematician Carl Gauss and von Humboldt, who did pretty much all the other down-to-earth natural sciences.

[@cCusky]

I want to have a conversation with this man

[@gfetco]

I believe people name their children after Alexander the great, though.

[@politechjunky]

Yeah my school in Miraflores Peru was named after him. I only knew that he was German and pacific current was named after him

[@mariadocarmofigueredosoare5828]

Very Good

[@DivinityStripes]

I will remember Humboldt... =) Thanks TEDEducation!

[@reality_official]

Now 265K people know about him. Good job TED ED..

[@ShubhamBhushanCC]

The king of Prussia called him, "The greatest man since the deluge.". Read Andrea Wulf's The Invention Of Nature. It's a wonderfully titillating book!

[@akashsandhu3846]

I read his name in my biology book

[@bonnie43uk]

Thanks for this. I'd vaguely heard the name, certainly deserves more media exposure.

[@g4nked]

In may of 2020, we remember.

[@carltonjohnson5969]

Surviving that many miles in the tropics without dying of malaria or trench foot is a feat in its self.

[@tuskinekinase]

Heard his name in Chinese once but never in English. Thank you TED!

[@maritabarriga6614]

hola, está genial este video, un favor, Dónde puedo encontrar la narración de este video en español?

[@skettistraps1108]

My elementary school (closed now) was named after him & they never talked or taught us about him.

[@daviddiaz5873]

One of the persons I admire the most

[@MrZooball99]

Humboldt State University, Arcata California. :)

[@bradleyngatchui8208]

Thanks For watching

[@bradleyngatchui8208]

Thanks For video

[@B.D.E.]

Have heard of him, thanks for asking. Introducing people to stuff is cool, don't have to be patronising about it.

[@anaclaradias6134]

Brasil aqui

[@piwini]

my school is named after him

[@leninizquierdo6061]

Oh the part of chicago im from is named after him there's even a statue of him in humbolt park

[@Ploppism]

He's quite famous in Germany - for example the Humboldt university in Berlin is named after him.

[@purcellhenrig6125]

the fact that these americans say they have never heard of him is mind blowing, do you not go to school or do you think you are going to school???

[@deraal86]

actually it's named after his brother Wilhelm von Homboldt, who was also a scientist in linguistics.

[@Jointi5]

After his Brother Wilhelm AND also him.

[@cojopablo609]

I get to hear his name every time i go to the beach, here in Chile :P damn cold current D:

[@pessational]

Father of Modern Geography

[@urnotalone]

Actually the Humboldt University on Berlin is named after Wilhelm von Humboldt ... Alexanders brother and the the guy who introduced modern schooling systems to germany and likely to the world.

[@stefanoraimondi5203]

Bello

[@benjules5681]

What german state was he from (germany was not united at the time)

[@smilly456]

+Book Loo March of Brandenburg

[@benjules5681]

smilly456 Prussian?

[@benjules5681]

***** OK, but the holy roman empire was kind of shit, and is really more of a union like the EU after it granted most of it's regions autonomy, also Prussia was a kingdom since 1701, and humbolt was born way after then. so hes prussian

[@benjules5681]

***** Thanks for the Info!

[@aadiatportsmouth]

When he came back to Europe, he was the most famous man in the world after Nepoleon.

[@ff8mx224]

Like si estas viendo esto en la cuarentena

[@shikkithefirst5393]

I only heard about Humboldt, because of a fiction book series about a man who claims to be his (illigitamate) son. If you speak German you might want to check them out. -Chroniken der Weltensucher.- But i never actually knew what exactly he did.

[@Omnilatent]

Cool fact! :)

[@ghufranullah]

Wow.... Never knew him! .. thanks Ted Ed!

[@dantusqq]

Celal hocam büyük adamsın.

[@longhoang148]

this is humanity

[@jadonbtmurder9744]

Discovery K-12, anyone?

[@MrKatoflsalat]

The university was renamed after both Wilhelm and Alexander von Humboldt. The seal shows both of them. Of course Wilhelm is more important for the university's history, because he founded it.

[@speed6ump]

It's Simón Bolivar not Simon. Otherwise good video!

[@19franken95]

Along with Marx, arguably the brightest mind Germany has ever produced, and there are quite a few...

[@duttakapil]

I know him. After watching this, Of-course :)

[@rebeccahempleman]

My sister goes to Humboldt University, I don’t know if there’s any relation

[@19songreatt36]

Any one here after listening vocal oli podcast?

[@Mad.E]

umm ... I recommend letting the google translator translate "Alexander von Humbolt" from English to German and then click on the little speaker on the right :)