Humboldt-University of Berlin facts for kids
The Humboldt-University of Berlin (German: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) is Berlin's first university. It was founded by Wilhelm von Humboldt. He was the German Minister of Education at the time. Von Humboldt organized Germany's system of education which is still used today. The first building was donated by Frederick William III of Prussia. The University opened its doors in 1810 as the University of Berlin.
History
At the time of its founding in 1810, there was pressure to make the new university both practical and industrial. Von Humboldt wanted it to be a center for the pursuit of truth in learning. In the end he won out. The University was set up under his principles. In 1828 it was formally renamed the Frederick-William University. The university was named in honor of the reigning monarch, Frederick William III of Prussia. The university offered the traditional faculties of law, medicine, theology and philosophy. Emperor William made several establishments at the University. One of these was the professorship of "American History". It is now called the "Theodore Roosevelt professorship". It required the position be filled by an American professor who must lecture in German. In an interview with then president Butler of Columbia University, a second professorship in Berlin was established with a lectures in English taught by a German professor.
From 1933 to 1945, under Nazism, the university lost many of its Jewish scholars and students. Some were killed. On May 10, 1933 many university books were burned. Before World War II Humboldt was still the major university in Berlin. After the war the university was greatly weakened. It reopened in January 1946. It was in the Soviet sector of Berlin. Many students and faculty wanted to continue their education free of communist government control. With the help of the US Army and donations from the United States government, the Free University of Berlin was established in 1948 in West Berlin.
In 1949 the university was given it's present name, Humboldt-University of Berlin (German: Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), to honor the brothers Alexander and Wilhelm von Humboldt. The university underwent a number of changes by the government of East Berlin in the 1950s. But it regained its importance as a major center of learning.
The university today
The university got its start reflecting the principles of the great educational reformer Wilhelm von Humboldt. It pioneered many new academic disciplines. In spite of its problems in the 20th century, the university has returned to its founding principles. There are 260 degree courses offered. The university has an academic staff of about 2,170 and 35,000 students. it is currently ranked 80th among the world's universities. It has been informally called "Berlin University" throughout its history. Also, informally, the "University of Linden" (German: Universität unter den Linden) after its location.
Images for kids
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Statue of Wilhelm von Humboldt in front of the main building by artist Paul Otto.
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Statue of Alexander von Humboldt outside Humboldt University, from 1883 by artist Reinhold Begas.
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The main building of Humboldt University, located in Berlin's "Mitte" district (Unter den Linden boulevard)
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Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist known for developing the theory of relativity and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics
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Erwin Schrödinger, physicist who developed a number of fundamental results in quantum theory, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics
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Max Planck, theoretical physicist and originator of quantum theory, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics
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Albrecht Kossel, biochemist who pioneered in the study of genetics and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine
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Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff, pioneering chemist and the first winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
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Otto Hahn, chemist, pioneer in the fields of radioactivity and radiochemistry, and recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry
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Theodor Mommsen, classical scholar and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature
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Alfred Wegener, polar researcher and geophysicist who originated the continental drift hypothesis
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Werner Heisenberg, theoretical physicist and pioneer of quantum mechanics
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Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, best-known collectors of German and European folk tales
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Heinrich Heine, poet best known for his early lyric poetry
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Karl Marx, philosopher, political theorist, and socialist revolutionary
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Friedrich Engels, philosopher and revolutionary socialist
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Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, idealist philosopher and one of the fundamental figures of modern Western philosophy
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Walter Benjamin, philosopher, cultural critic and essayist
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Max Stirner, philosopher and forerunner of nihilism and postmodernism
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Ernst Cassirer, idealist philosopher
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Felix Mendelssohn, composer during the early Romantic period
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Max Weber, sociologist and influential figure in modern social theory and social research
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Georg Simmel, sociologist and philosopher
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W.E.B. Du Bois, civil rights activist and academic
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Karl Liebknecht, socialist politician and revolutionary
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Gustav Stresemann, statesman during the Weimar Republic and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize
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Austen Chamberlain, statesman and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize
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Emmanuelle Charpentier, professor and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
See also
In Spanish: Universidad Humboldt de Berlín para niños