German Science in the Age of Empire: Enterprise, Opportunity and the Schlagintweit Brothers

This book explores the national, imperial, and indigenous interests at stake in a German survey expedition in the 1850s, arguing that German scientists seized the opportunity to observe, record, collect, and loot manuscripts, maps, and museological artefacts that shaped European understandings of the East. It offers a new understanding of German science and its role in shaping foreign empires and provides a revisionist account of the questions of authority and authenticity in reportage from distant sites.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 428 pages
Publication date: 12 November 2020
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This groundbreaking study delves into the intricate web of national, imperial, and indigenous interests that shaped a significant survey expedition undertaken by the German Schlagintweit brothers during the 1850s, while they were employed by the East India Company. The expedition traversed through South and Central Asia, providing a unique opportunity for German scientists to observe, record, collect, and loot manuscripts, maps, and museological artifacts that played a crucial role in shaping European understandings of the East.

Through extensive archival research conducted across three continents, von Brescius vividly explores the dynamics and conflicts of transcultural exploration beyond colonial frontiers in Asia. He meticulously analyzes the contested careers of these imperial outsiders, shedding light on significant shifts in the culture of gentlemanly science, the violent negotiations of scientific authority in a transnational arena, and the transition from the Humboldtian enquiry to a new disciplinary order.

This book offers a fresh perspective on German science and its profound impact on shaping foreign empires. It challenges traditional narratives and provides a revisionist account of the questions of authority and authenticity in reportage from distant sites. By examining the Schlagintweit brothers' expedition, von Brescius sheds light on the complex interplay between scientific inquiry, colonialism, and cultural exchange, contributing to our understanding of the intricate and multifaceted history of scientific exploration in the late 19th century.

Weight: 628g
Dimension: 228 x 152 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108446068