Cheikh Ibrahim

Description

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Johann Ludwig Burckhardt's death, the Basel Historical Museum publishes a new edition of the traveler's biography in collaboration with Christoph Merian publishers. During his adventurous exploration journey through the Near East, Burckhardt rediscovered the rocky city of Petra, in present-day Jordan, as well as the Egyptian temple of Abu Simbel. His detailed descriptions of Arab worlds still impress today. Son of a wealthy silk ribbon manufacturer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt grew up in the house "zum Kirschgarten" in Basel. After extensive studies in Germany, he went to London to seek work. It was there in 1809 that the "African Association" research society entrusted him with the mission to explore the trade route between Cairo and Timbuktu. After a period of intensive preparation, during which he mainly studied the Arabic language, he set out for Aleppo. To avoid suspicion of espionage, Burckhardt dressed in oriental attire and called himself Cheikh Ibrahim ibn Abdallah. Until his premature death at the age of 32, he traveled incognito through the still little-known regions of the Near East. His impressive travel accounts and descriptions of the Bedouins became important sources for cartography and ethnography in the 19th century. These accounts still generate great interest today and are regularly reissued. In this fundamentally revised and expanded new edition, the team of authors from HMB sheds clear light on the life of this fascinating Orient explorer. This unique publication in German about Johann Ludwig Burckhardt also provided an opportunity to emphasize his upbringing at the Haus zum Kirschgarten, his family environment, his education, and his early influence. With a rich selection of quotes from his letters and reports, the new publication also gives voice to Cheikh Ibrahim himself. Note: This text was translated by an automatic translation software and not by a human translator. It may contain translation errors.

Highlights

• Exhibition on Johann Ludwig Burckhardt
• Rediscovery of Petra and Abu Simbel
• Biography published on the occasion of the 200th anniversary

General Information

The exhibition at the Basel Historical Museum highlights Johann Ludwig Burckhardt's travels through the Near East. It presents his contributions to cartography and ethnography, as well as his fascinating accounts of Arab cultures.

Location

Elisabethenstrasse 27, 4051 Basel, Switzerland

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