Bernhard Varen German-Dutch geographer Country: Germany

1. Biography of Bernhard Varen
2. Education and Career
3. Contributions to Geography

Biography of Bernhard Varen

Bernhard Varen, a German-Dutch geographer, is considered to be the founder of modern geography as a scientific discipline. He was born in 1622 in the small German town of Hitzacker on the Elbe River, in the province of Hannover, which is now part of South Saxony. His father, Heinrich Varen (1595-1635), was a court priest of the Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Bernhard was only 13 years old when his mother, Anna Freder, passed away in 1623, leaving him in the care of his father. Unfortunately, his father also died in 1635, leaving Bernhard as an orphan. His older brother, August Varen (1620-1684), became a professor and later the rector of the university in Rostock.

Education and Career

After the death of his father, Bernhard Varen went to Hamburg, where he studied at the Joachim Jungius Gymnasium from 1640 to 1642. At the gymnasium, Jungius emphasized the importance of careful observation and mathematical accuracy in studying various subjects. Varen then practiced mathematics and medicine at the University of Königsberg in East Prussia from 1643 to 1645. In 1649, he moved to Leiden, where he obtained his doctorate in medicine. Later that year, he settled in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, and opened a medical practice.

The geographical discoveries made by Dutch explorers sparked Varen's interest in geography. He published two books through the Elsevier printing house, which were compilations of earlier works. In 1649, he published "Description of Japan" (Descriptio Regni Japoniae), which focused on Southeast Asia rather than Japan itself, mainly discussing cultural and religious aspects rather than geography. However, it is sometimes considered a work on regional geography based on available written sources and accounts from missionaries and merchants.

Varen's most significant work was "General Geography" (Geographia Generalis), published in 1650. This book provided a comprehensive scientific description of the Earth based on the knowledge available at that time. Varen paid particular attention to "mathematical geography," including calculations of distances, map construction, and navigation coordinates. It is unclear whether Varen lived to see the publication of this work, as there are reports that he died in poverty in Leiden around the age of 30 in 1650/1651, possibly from tuberculosis or exhaustion from his extensive research and compilation of factual information. Regardless, "General Geography" became a classic work in the field and significantly influenced the internal structure and methodology of geography as a science. Varen was recognized by his contemporaries for his talent, and later geographers confirmed the importance of his work.

The first edition of "General Geography" was published by Elsevier in 1650, followed by editions in 1664 and 1671. The book remained one of the most important works on physical geography in Europe and was translated into several European languages during the 18th century. Isaac Newton lectured on geography using Varen's book and published it twice in England with his own revisions.

In 1718, a Russian translation of Varen's "General Geography" was published in Moscow under the direct order of Russian Emperor Peter the Great. It became a classic textbook and reference guide for geography in Russia, used by the emperor himself, as well as teachers and students at the Navigation School in Moscow.

Contributions to Geography

Varen, a proponent of mechanistic philosophy, viewed the Earth as humanity's habitat and aimed to provide a scientifically accurate description of it. His work in the first part of "General Geography" covered the geographical location, size, and configuration of the described countries, as well as the relief, hydrography, vegetation, and agricultural conditions. He described the natural resources and their exploitation, as well as the animal kingdom. The second part focused on the population, providing detailed demographic data, describing the main occupations, incomes, and crafts of the inhabitants, as well as their culture, customs, and political characteristics.

Sources of information for Varen's "geographies" were abundant in the Netherlands due to the country's economic and historical conditions. The Dutch became pioneers in capitalism, and their trading fleet became crucial for international trade. The accumulation of geographical knowledge became necessary for successful navigation, trade, and diplomatic activities. The Dutch excelled in cartography, printing thematic maps and atlases, which provided accurate and accessible geographical information.

Bernhard Varen, with his talent and education, created his geographical works at the right time and in the right place. His contributions to geography as a separate scientific discipline laid the foundation for further advancements in the field.