A doctorate in botany obtained in 1921 marked the beginning of Carl Troll’s academic trajectory, which shifted toward geography by 1925. Throughout his career, he focused on mountainous regions and the intersection of physical environments and vegetation, eventually coining the term landscape ecology in 1939 while utilizing aerial photography for his analytical research.
Academic Foundation and Research Methodology
Born in 1899 in Gabersee, Carl Troll attended the Wilhelmsgymnasium before enrolling at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München from 1919 to 1922. During these years, he studied biology, chemistry, geology, geography, and physics. He served as an assistant at the Geography Institute in Munich between 1922 and 1927. His methodological approach emphasized the use of aerial images to interpret interactions between the environment and plant life, leading to the development of three-dimensional climatic classifications and seasonal charts based on biological, hydrological, and economic data.
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Troll conducted extensive field research across multiple continents. Between 1926 and 1929, his travels covered South American countries including Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, and northern Chile. His later expeditions included research in East and South Africa in 1933 and 1934, travel to Ethiopia in 1937, and a research visit to Mexico in 1954. These journeys informed his studies on high mountain ecology, building upon the foundational vertical zonation theories established by Alexander von Humboldt.
Institutional Roles and Recognition
Troll held several academic posts throughout his career, serving as a professor of colonial and overseas geography in Berlin starting in 1930 and later as a professor of geography at the University of Bonn beginning in 1938. His leadership in the scientific community included serving as president of the International Geographical Union from 1960 to 1964. His contributions earned him various honors, including the Carus medal in 1938, the Vega Medal in 1951, the Carl-Ritter-Medal in 1959, the Victoria Medal in 1962, and the Albrecht Penck Medal in 1964.
The Inca Empire and Environmental Context
In his examination of the Inca state, Troll identified specific environmental factors that supported its development, such as the production of chuño, a staple food made from potatoes dried in freezing nighttime temperatures. He also linked the geographical distribution of llamas and alpacas to the expansion of the Inca Empire and highlighted the role of irrigation technology. While noting these environmental influences, he consistently maintained that culture remained the central driver of the Inca civilization, rejecting environmental determinism.
Fast facts
- Born: 1899, Gabersee
- Died: 1975, Bonn
- Field: Geography, Botany, Meteorology
- Coined term: Landscape ecology (1939)
- IGU President: 1960-1964
- Notable honor: Victoria Medal (1962)
Questions readers ask
What significant terminology did Carl Troll introduce?
He coined the term landscape ecology in 1939, which integrated aerial photograph interpretation with environmental and vegetation studies.
Did Carl Troll believe in environmental determinism regarding the Inca Empire?
No, he explicitly opposed environmental determinism, arguing that culture was the core element of the Inca civilization despite the advantages provided by local environmental conditions.
Achievements
- Carus medal
- Albrecht Penck Medal
- Vega Medal
- Victoria Medal
- Recorded as geographer, meteorologist and university teacher
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