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Front: Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859), German naturalist and explorer

von Humboldt was born in Berlin, Germany, son of an army officer. His early education was provided by private tutors. Later he studied at the Freiberg Academy of Mines under the famous geologist A.G. Werner. In 1792, von Humboldt began work as a government mines inspector in Franconia, Prussia. At the age of 27, he traveled to South and Central America to study the flora, fauna, and topography of the continent. In 1804 he returned to Europe and wrote thirty volumes about his field of studies.

Back: Humboldt University

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Front: Thomas Muntzer (1489-1525), German radical reformer

Muntzer was born in the small village of Stolberg, now central Germany. He studied for the priesthood and became a priest in 1514. He joined Martin Luther's Reformation in 1519 but later broke with him to establish his own sect.

Muentzer encouraged the peasants to revolt against the wealthy landowners based on his interpretations of apocalyptic literature. Muentzer's struggle of "good versus evil" later made him a symbolic hero for the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

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