Alexander Javakhishvili
Encyclopedia
Alexander Nikolayevich Javakhishvili born 5 August 1875 (Old Style Julian Calendar
), 17 August 1875 (New Style Gregorian Calendar
) in Gori, Georgia
—died January 22 1973, Tbilisi
, Georgia
) was a Georgian geographer
and anthropologist.
Professor
A. N. Javakhishvili was one of the oldest geographers and anthropologists in the Soviet Union. He was the founder of Soviet Georgian geography which, under him, developed into a school.
His qualifications and awards include Doctor of Geographical Sciences
(1937), recognition as an Academician
of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
(1944), a Merited Scientist, an honorary member of the USSR Geographic Society, and winner of a State Prize of the Georgian SSR.
at the Georgian Gymnasium for sons of the gentry.
Leaving the Georgian Gymnasium in 1887, he pursued his studies at the Second Classical Gymnasium for Boys in Tbilisi. In 1895 he completed the course, winning a gold medal and the right to a state grant at Moscow University
where he became a student of physics and mathematics in its sub-department of Natural Sciences.
In 1900 Javakhishvili graduated from the Department of Physics and Mathematics with honours and was invited to remain at the University to prepare for a professorship. As early as in 1899 he began to work as an assistant in organic chemistry
in which he was particularly interested at the time.
of the contemporary population of the Caucasus
; the results of his investigations became widely known in the scientific world. He was a born scientist, and, owing to his exceptional purposefulness, his numerous works covered almost all the geographical problems of Georgia: geomorphology
, cartography
, the geographical distribution of the population, problems dealing with various peculiarities of the land and its people, and the varied terrain of the country; neither did the history of geography of Georgia escape his attention.
The theoretical works of Javakhishvili are a significant contribution to Soviet geographical science; among these are publications devoted to the structure of this science, to the interrelations between sciences composing general geography and to their links with adjacent sciences, making part of the geography of the Earth.
The amount of work Javakhishvili did for the benefit of science and knowledge is more than one man could normally be expected to do; therefore he can be regarded, together with Vakhushti Bagrationi, as the founder of geography
in Georgia.
"Excellent Educationalist". The Soviet Government highly appreciated Javakhishvili's scientific and public activities and awarded him the Order of Lenin
, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
twice, and the Medal "For Conspicuous Service during the Great Patriotic War
of 1941 — 1945".
Old Style and New Style dates
Old Style and New Style are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year has been adjusted to start on 1 January even though documents written at the time use a different start of year ; or to indicate that a date conforms to the Julian...
), 17 August 1875 (New Style Gregorian Calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
) in Gori, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
—died January 22 1973, Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
) was a Georgian geographer
Geographer
A geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
and anthropologist.
Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
A. N. Javakhishvili was one of the oldest geographers and anthropologists in the Soviet Union. He was the founder of Soviet Georgian geography which, under him, developed into a school.
His qualifications and awards include Doctor of Geographical Sciences
Doktor nauk
Doktor nauk is a higher doctoral degree, the second and the highest post-graduate academic degree in the Soviet Union, Russia and in many post-Soviet states. Sometimes referred to as Dr. Hab. The prerequisite is the first degree, Kandidat nauk which is informally regarded equivalent to Ph.D....
(1937), recognition as an Academician
Academician
The title Academician denotes a Full Member of an art, literary, or scientific academy.In many countries, it is an honorary title. There also exists a lower-rank title, variously translated Corresponding Member or Associate Member, .-Eastern Europe and China:"Academician" may also be a functional...
of the Georgian Academy of Sciences
Georgian Academy of Sciences
The Georgian National Academy of Sciences is a main learned society of the Georgia. It was named Georgian SSR Academy of Sciences until November 1990...
(1944), a Merited Scientist, an honorary member of the USSR Geographic Society, and winner of a State Prize of the Georgian SSR.
Biography
Javakhishvili was born on 5 August (17 August New Style), 1875, in the town of Gori, into a government official's family. Javakhishvili began his schooling in TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
at the Georgian Gymnasium for sons of the gentry.
Leaving the Georgian Gymnasium in 1887, he pursued his studies at the Second Classical Gymnasium for Boys in Tbilisi. In 1895 he completed the course, winning a gold medal and the right to a state grant at Moscow University
Moscow State University
Lomonosov Moscow State University , previously known as Lomonosov University or MSU , is the largest university in Russia. Founded in 1755, it also claims to be one of the oldest university in Russia and to have the tallest educational building in the world. Its current rector is Viktor Sadovnichiy...
where he became a student of physics and mathematics in its sub-department of Natural Sciences.
In 1900 Javakhishvili graduated from the Department of Physics and Mathematics with honours and was invited to remain at the University to prepare for a professorship. As early as in 1899 he began to work as an assistant in organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
in which he was particularly interested at the time.
Scientific activities
His research, to which he devoted many years of his life, solved the cardinal problems of anthropologyAnthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
of the contemporary population of the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
; the results of his investigations became widely known in the scientific world. He was a born scientist, and, owing to his exceptional purposefulness, his numerous works covered almost all the geographical problems of Georgia: geomorphology
Geomorphology
Geomorphology is the scientific study of landforms and the processes that shape them...
, cartography
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
, the geographical distribution of the population, problems dealing with various peculiarities of the land and its people, and the varied terrain of the country; neither did the history of geography of Georgia escape his attention.
The theoretical works of Javakhishvili are a significant contribution to Soviet geographical science; among these are publications devoted to the structure of this science, to the interrelations between sciences composing general geography and to their links with adjacent sciences, making part of the geography of the Earth.
The amount of work Javakhishvili did for the benefit of science and knowledge is more than one man could normally be expected to do; therefore he can be regarded, together with Vakhushti Bagrationi, as the founder of geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
in Georgia.
Awards
In 1955 the Ministry of Education of the Georgian SSR awarded Javakhishvili the badge"Excellent Educationalist". The Soviet Government highly appreciated Javakhishvili's scientific and public activities and awarded him the Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
, the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
twice, and the Medal "For Conspicuous Service during the Great Patriotic War
Great Patriotic War (term)
The term Great Patriotic War , Velíkaya Otéchestvennaya voyná,) is used in Russia and some other states of the former Soviet Union to describe the portion of World War II from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945, against Nazi Germany and its allies in the many fronts of Soviet-German war.-History:The term...
of 1941 — 1945".
Works
- საქართველოს გეოგრაფია, ტ. 1 - გეომორფოლოგია (ატლასით), ტფ., 1926;
- საქართველოს სსრ ფიზიკური გეოგრაფია (სახელმძღვანელო 7 კლასისთვის), გამოც. 35-ე, თბ., 1983;
- Антропология Грузии (т. 1‒2, 1908‒14);
- Геоморфологические районы Грузинской ССР. М-Л., 1947;
- К структуру географической науки, 1956.
Literature
- Джаошвили В., Кверенчхиладзе P., А. Н. Джавахишвили (к 90-летию со дня рождения), «Изв. Всесоюзного географического общества», 1965.