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Karsten NiburExplorer of Arabia.
Country:
 Denmark |
Content:
Biography of Carsten Niebuhr
Carsten Niebuhr, a mathematician by education, was a Danish explorer and scholar who is known for his extensive exploration of Arabia in the 18th century. He is considered the first European to visit and extensively document various regions of the Arabian Peninsula.
Early Life and Expeditions
Carsten Niebuhr was born on March 17, 1733, in Lüdingworth, Germany. He initially pursued a career in mathematics, studying at the University of Göttingen. In 1760, he moved to Denmark and in 1761, he was appointed as the leader of a Danish scientific expedition to the Middle East.
On October 29, 1762, Niebuhr and the members of the scientific expedition, sent by the King of Denmark, landed in the small port of El Qunfidah on the eastern coast of the Red Sea. Unfortunately, only Niebuhr survived out of the five scientists. According to Niebuhr, his companions succumbed to exhaustion due to their European habits, such as consuming excessive amounts of meat and not adapting to the extreme temperature differences.
Exploration and Contributions
Despite the challenges, Niebuhr adopted the lifestyle of the local people, which allowed him to maintain his health and facilitate communication with the natives. He did not encounter hostility from the Arab population and described the inhabitants of Yemen as polite and welcoming to foreigners.
Niebuhr's extensive travels and observations resulted in his renowned work "Description of Arabia," which was first published in 1772. Although he spent only twelve months in Arabia instead of the intended two to three years, his exploration significantly expanded knowledge about the region.
His work provides detailed information about the Arab society, social classes, genealogy, and religion. He also describes their customs, traditions, and practices, including marriage, castration, and circumcision. Additionally, Niebuhr discusses Arab poets, orators, schools, universities, and the prevalent use of calligraphy. He sheds light on various aspects of Arabian life, such as agriculture, animals, metallurgy, precious stones, and medicinal practices. Furthermore, he offers insights into the political divisions and ruling systems in Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, and the Hijaz region.
Legacy
Carsten Niebuhr's meticulous observations and surveys greatly contributed to the geographical knowledge of Arabia. Although he could not map the entire peninsula, he created detailed maps of the regions he explored, significantly improving existing maps. His work remained one of the most comprehensive and influential sources of information about Arabia until the late 19th century.
In addition to his geographical contributions, Niebuhr also predicted the potential impact of the emerging religious movement known as Wahhabism, which gained prominence in Arabia after his expeditions. His observations and writings provided Europe with an early understanding of the movement's influence on the region.
After returning from his expeditions, Niebuhr continued his scholarly pursuits. He studied the ruins of ancient cities in Iran and made significant contributions to the decipherment of the ancient Persian cuneiform script. Carsten Niebuhr passed away on April 26, 1815, in Meldorf, Denmark, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the field of geography and exploration.
