Imagine a world without maps. Now, step into the Geographisches Institut. It’s more than just a building. It is a cornerstone of geographical study in Berlin. As one of the oldest and largest institutes in Germany, the Geographisches Institut at Humboldt University has a rich history.
The story of modern geography intertwines with that of the Berliner Universität. National and international geographical inspiration sprang from here. Geography was once a subset of theology, philosophy, mathematics and statistics. However, that changed. In 1810, Johann August Zeune, head of a school for the blind, represented geography as an associate professor.
Carl Ritter later drew the Prussian General Staff’s attention with his work. In 1820, he became a professor at the Berliner Allgemeine Kriegsschule. He also taught at the university. Ritter transformed geography. He gave it a new focus and legitimacy. His lectures drew crowds including Karl Marx.
Alexander von Humboldt also boosted geography’s reputation. He held his popular Kosmos lectures in Berlin. Following these lectures, the Gesellschaft für Erdkunde formed. Carl Ritter became its first director. The society aimed to spread geographical knowledge. It also promoted exploration.
After Ritter’s death, Heinrich Kiepert became professor in 1874. He taught historical cartography. Ferdinand von Richthofen arrived in 1886. He established the Geographisches Institut at the Berliner Universität in 1887. The institute first resided in the Schinkelsche Bauakademie. It moved to Georgenstraße in 1902.
Richthofen founded the Institut für Meereskunde in 1900. He also opened the Museum für Meereskunde in 1906. Richthofen’s work made the Gesellschaft für Erdkunde a central hub. The Internationale Geographentag in 1899 marked a highlight.
Albrecht Penck succeeded Richthofen in 1906. Penck was known for his ice-age research. He advanced geomorphology and climate geography. Alfred Rühl later challenged older views of geography. He called for a social science base for economic geography.
In 1931, the Geographisches Institut moved to Universitätsstraße 3b. After World War II, the university reorganized. In 1946, it reopened. It became Humboldt University in 1949. The new Geographisches Institut focused on physical geography. In 1966, it merged with the Institut für Politische und Ökonomische Geographie.
After 1989, restructuring led to today’s Geographisches Institut. In 1994, it moved to Chausseestraße 86. Since 2003, the Geographisches Institut has been in Adlershof. It occupies a building with old and new sections. Today, it has nine departments and about 100 employees. The Geographisches Institut continues to shape geographical study and research. It shapes our understanding of the world.