In 1829, Alexander von Humboldt reached the easternmost point of his Russian journey: A border post of the Manchurian Qing dynasty. Here, on the borderline between the Tsarist Empire and the territory of the former Jungar Empire, the explorer and his companions met a Manchurian border guard and some Mongols. These and other encounters – such as the one with the Oirad Mongols on the Volga – enabled Humboldt and his companions not only to gain scientific research results, but also deep insights into a living world and culture that were new to them.
Image gallery
Porträt von Alexander von Humboldt neben einem Globus sitzend mit einem Manuscript zu seinem Lebenswerk "Cosmos: A Sketch of a Physical Description of the Universe" 1845-1862, Karl Josef Stieler, 1843; Bild 2: Widmung eines mandschurischen Grenzof...
How did this historical encounter between the Mongols and Alexander von Humboldt unfold? In what historical context did it take place? And what significance do the scientific achievements of the expedition and the collection objects brought back from the Asian continent still have for science today?
Lectures by scientific experts and contributions by musicians will shed light on the encounter – an intellectual journey to the (former) Mongolian territories from a historical, cultural and natural science perspective.
How did this historical encounter between the Mongols and Alexander von Humboldt unfold? In what historical context did it take place? And what significance do the scientific achievements of the expedition and the collection objects brought back from the Asian continent still have for science today?
Lectures by scientific experts and contributions by Mongolian musicians will shed light on the encounter – an intellectual journey to the (former) Mongolian territories from a historical, cultural and natural science perspective.
14:00-14:30 Greetings
Dr. Birvaa Mandakhbileg, H.E. Ambassador of Mongolia
Presidium of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
14:30-18:30 Lectures
"Alexander von Humboldt's Second Great Journey", Prof. Dr. Marcel Robischon (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
"In the Footsteps of Alexander von Humboldt in Russia and Kazakhstan", Dr. Ferdinand Damaschun (Museum of Natural History Berlin)
"Alexander von Humboldt's Central Asia and the Manchurian Qing Dynasty", Dr Francesca Fiaschetti (University of Vienna)
"The Manchurian language and its connection with Classical Mongolian", Prof. Dr. Otgontuul Togtokh (National University of Mongolia)
"The border protection of the Mongols at the time of Alexander von Humboldt", Dr. Ganchimeg Altangerel (Humboldt University Berlin)
"Central Asian Objects from Alexander von Humboldt's Possession at the Berlin State Library", Antje Ziemer (Berlin State Library)
"The music culture of the 19th century in the Western Mongolian Altai Mountains", Gerlee Tsegmid-Rösch (Mongolian Step, Bad Homburg)
18:00-18:30 "What was heard musically when Humboldt travelled to the Mongols", Ines Theileis (vocals, Salon Fähig, Berlin) and Nasanjargal Ganbold (throat singing and horse-head fiddle, Sedaa, Hamburg)
BETEILIGTE
Prof. Dr Marcel Robischon teaches and researches at the Thaer Institute for Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. He is Head of the Department of Agroecology.
Dr Ferdinand Damaschun worked as Head of the Exhibition and Public Education Department at the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. From 2006 to 2015 he was Deputy Director General there.
Dr Francesca Fiaschetti is a researcher of Inner and East Asian history, specialising in the history of the Mongol Empire. Since 2019, she has been the director of the Mongolia Cluster, a centre for the study of Mongolian history and culture at the University of Vienna.
Prof. Dr Otgontuul Togtokh teaches, among other things, Written Manchurian at the Faculty of Human Sciences of the National University of Mongolia. She is currently working on a comparative study for Manchurian, Korean and Mongolian languages.
Dr. Ganchimeg Altangerel teaches and researches at the Institute for Asian and African Studies at the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, where he represents the Mongolian Studies Department.
Antje Ziemer works as a subject specialist for Central Asia at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin and last year graduated with an M.A. LIS from the Institute of Library and Information Science at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Gerlee Tsegmid-Rösch is a cultural ambassador for Mongolia. In 2017, she founded the agency "Mongolian Step" to communicate Mongolian art and culture. Since then, she has realised several international projects.
Ines Theileis is a qualified vocal teacher and singer. She especially works experimentally with classical music. She is the artistic director of the science variety show "Salon Fähig" in Berlin.
Nasanjargal Ganbold is a throat and undertone singer and plays stringed instruments including horse-head fiddle. He worked as an artist in the music group Beurte. As a co-founder of Hosoo-Transmongolia and Sedaa, he has toured internationally.
Further information:
- Language: German
- from 14 years
- free of charge
- Location at the Humboldt Forum: Hall 3, ground floor
