Pere Bosch-Gimpera facts for kids
Pere Bosch-Gimpera (born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1891 – died in Mexico in 1974) was a very important Spanish-born Mexican archaeologist and anthropologist. An archaeologist studies ancient human history by digging up old objects and buildings. An anthropologist studies human societies and cultures. He had to leave Spain after the Spanish Civil War and moved to Mexico, like many other smart people at the time. He became a Mexican citizen in 1971.
Contents
His Journey to Archaeology
Pere Bosch-Gimpera first started studying Law, but he soon changed his mind. He then studied Philology, which is the study of language in historical sources. He earned a special degree in this in 1911. To become a professor of Greek, he also got a degree in History in 1913.
From 1911 to 1914, he studied Greek language, Prehistory, and Ancient History in Berlin, Germany. He received a scholarship to help him with his studies. While there, a famous scholar named Wilamowitz-Moellendorf advised him to change his focus. Pere then moved from studying Greek language to focusing on prehistoric archaeology.
Work and Teaching
From 1916 to 1939, Pere Bosch-Gimpera was a professor at the University of Barcelona. He taught Ancient and Medieval History. At the same time, he was the director of the Archaeological Research Service. This service was part of the “Institut d'Estudis Catalans”.
In 1919, he published a book called Prehistòria Catalana. After this, he strongly supported using the Catalan language in scientific books and papers. Between 1916 and 1931, he led the archaeology part of the museums in Barcelona. From 1931 to 1933, he was the dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Philology. Then, from 1933 to 1939, he became the president of the University of Barcelona.
Political Involvement and Exile
Pere Bosch-Gimpera was also involved in Catalan politics. He served as the Minister of Justice for Catalonia in the government led by Lluís Companys. After some political events on October 6, 1934, he was arrested. He was held prisoner on a ship called Uruguay with other government members. This caused complaints from other countries.
After the Spanish Civil War, he had to leave Spain. He went to live in Mexico, along with many other educated people. Later, he faced unfair criticism at the University of Barcelona. He officially became a Mexican citizen in 1971.
Teaching Around the World
Pere Bosch-Gimpera also taught at many other universities. These included universities in Berlin (1921), Edinburgh (1936), Oxford (1939–1941), Paris (1961), and Heidelberg (1966).
From 1941 until he passed away in 1974, he was a professor. He taught at the Autonomous University and the School of Archaeology at the University of Mexico City. He also taught at the University of Guatemala from 1945 to 1947. He worked for UNESCO as the director of the Division of Philosophy and Humanities from 1948 to 1953. Later, he was the secretary general of the Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences from 1953 to 1966.
Main Works
Pere Bosch-Gimpera wrote many important books during his career:
- Prehistòria Catalana: edats de la pedra i dels metalls, colonització grega, etnografia (1919)
- La arqueología preromana hispánica (1920)
- Etnología de la Península Ibérica (1932)
- El poblamiento antiguo y la formación de los pueblos de España (1945)
- El problema indoeuropeo (1960)
- El Próximo Oriente en la Antigüedad (1964)
- La Universitat i Catalunya (1969)
- Historia de Oriente (1971)
- La América precolombina (1971)
- Las raíces de Europa (1974)
- La América prehispánica (1974)
Honorary Memberships
Pere Bosch-Gimpera was recognized by many important groups for his work. Some of these include:
- Honorary member of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
- Honorary member of the Society of Antiquaries of London
- Honorary member of the Institut d'Estudis Catalans of Barcelona
- Honorary member of the Deutsches Archaeologisches Institut of Berlín
- Honorary member of the Hispanic Society of America of Washington
- Correspondent member of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres of Paris
- Correspondent member of the Pontificia Academia Romana di Archeologia of Rome
- Correspondent member of the Archaeological Society of Jutland
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Bosch para niños
