University at North Texas in Dallas, Consulate General of Germany and Consulado General de España in Houston

March 31, 2022 

Zoom Webinar 4:00p.m. ~ 5:00p.m.  (CST)

https://bit.ly/UNTDallasHumboldtsTravelWebinarLink 

 After his 5-year voyage through Spanish America, Alexander von Humboldt arrived in Philadelphia in May 1804 and shortly afterwards met with president Jefferson in the new capital of Washington. The lecture focuses on this important encounter, only shortly after the Louisiana Purchase, when Jefferson was seeking reliable information on the newly acquired land, which formerly had belonged to the Spanish Empire. Humboldt had spent one year in the Spanish viceroyalty of New Spain, an area that today comprises the U.S. Southwest, with access to the most important colonial archives. Jefferson was thus intrigued about this visit and had specific question for the European guest. 

Dr. Rebok will discuss Humboldt´s work on New Spain Tablas geografico-politicas de la Nueva España and shed light on some much-debated questions concerning the information he provided, his motivation and the usefulness of this knowledge for the expanding United States.