Paul Kirchhoff facts for kids

Paul Kirchhoff (born August 17, 1900 – died December 9, 1972) was a German-Mexican anthropologist. He is best known for creating and explaining the idea of Mesoamerica. This is a special cultural area in Central America and Mexico. He even came up with the name "Mesoamerica" himself.

Early Life and Studies

Paul Kirchhoff was born in a place called Hörste in Germany. He started studying Protestant theology and different religions at the University of Berlin. Later, he moved to the Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg.

In the mid-1920s, he studied ethnology (the study of cultures) and psychology at the University of Leipzig. This is where he first became very interested in the ancient cultures of the native peoples of the Americas. He finished his studies in 1927.

In 1928, he traveled to the United States. There, he studied the Navajo language until 1930. He returned to Germany in 1931 to complete his final academic work.

Later, in 1938, he helped start Mexico's National School of Anthropology and History. He also worked as a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Kirchhoff was very important in defining Mesoamerica. This is a cultural region that shared many common features throughout most of its history before Europeans arrived. Geographically, it includes central and southern Mexico and the northern parts of Central America.

Political Activities

From a young age, Paul Kirchhoff was involved in politics. In the early 1920s, he was part of radical political groups in Germany.

In the early 1930s, he joined a left-wing group within the Communist Party of Germany. This group later formed a new organization called the Internationalen Kommunisten Deutschlands (IKD).

While in the United States, Kirchhoff used a different name, Eiffel. He joined another political group called the Revolutionary Workers League. By 1937, Kirchhoff had left the U.S. and moved to Mexico.

In Mexico, from 1938 to at least 1940, Kirchhoff was active in a group called the Grupo de Trabajadores Marxistas (GMT). This group published a journal called Comunismo.

Later Life

After 1941, it seems Kirchhoff stopped being actively involved in politics.

He passed away in Mexico City in 1972.

See also

In Spanish: Paul Kirchhoff para niños