The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World

Wulf focuses on Humboldt’s complex role during the European revolutions of 1848, his political stance, and his later years. The chapter sets the scene in Berlin, where Humboldt faced challenges reconciling his liberal political views with his duties at the Prussian court amidst widespread revolutionary uprisings across Europe.

The narrative recounts how economic hardship and political repression triggered revolts across the continent, starting in Paris and rapidly spreading to Italy, Denmark, Hungary, and beyond. As the conservative Chancellor Metternich fled Vienna, and various monarchs abdicated or conceded to democratic demands, Prussia’s own King Friedrich Wilhelm IV resisted such changes, despite significant public pressure in Berlin.

Humboldt, known for his progressive views, found himself increasingly at odds with the reactionary policies of Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who openly dismissed any move toward constitutional monarchy. Wulf details Humboldt’s disillusionment with the king’s focus on aesthetics over governance and highlights a particular moment of crisis when Berlin protestors clashed with the king’s troops, leading to a temporary victory for the revolutionaries.

Despite his age and the tumultuous times, Humboldt continued his scientific work, notably on his comprehensive treatise, Cosmos. The chapter illustrates Humboldt’s struggle to update his work with the latest scientific findings.