The “United Brethren” and Johann Gerhard König: Cranz’s History of Greenland as an Avenue to the Natural History of India

In this contribution, Thomas Ruhland examines Cranz’s book as means of patronage in the context of the competition between the Halle Pietists and Moravians in Southeast Asia. Highlighting the political dimension of natural history, Ruhland assesses the significance of the publication in struggles for scientific recognition and royal privileges in particular. Using the example of Christian Friis Rottboll and Johann Gerhard Konig, he shows how the Historie von Gronland served as launch pad for the implementation of natural history for both missions as an integral part into missionary activities. Building on the readership of Cranz, the Moravians established a commercial trade with specimens supplying scientist like Joseph Banks, thereby paving the way and becoming a role model for later missionaries and scientist in India.