Amerika in Asien Alexander von Humboldts Asie centrale und die russisch-sibirische Forschungsreise im transarealen Kontext

Abstract

Article in German, Abstracts in English and SpanishAmerica in Asia: Alexander von Humboldt's «Asie centrale» in the context of TransArea StudiesSince 1793, Alexander von Humboldt had been dreaming of realizing a travel to Russia, leading him right into Central Asia. In 1829, he finally was able to see his dream fulfilled, although the contexts and conditions of his travel to Russia were totally different from those of his voyage to the Americas, realized some thirty years earlier. Severely controlled by the Russian monarchy, the travellers made it up to the Chinese border, rapidly crossing, within very few months and with the help of more than 12000 horses, more than 18000 kilometers.This article analizes the outstanding importance of Humboldt's Asian project in the context of Humboldtian Science, specially focussing the relevance of TransArea studies within its omnipresent AsiAmerican dimensions. Therefore, Asie centrale occupies a highly specific place within the complex cosmos of Humboldt's writings, highlighting a fascinating transdisciplinary and geoecological approach still of great importance today.

Keywords

• Alexander von Humboldt
• Ottmar Ette
• Asie centrale
• Russia
• 1829