Karl Haushofer was a German geographer, geopolitician, and philosopher, born in 1869. He is best known for his theories on geopolitics, which emphasized the importance of geography in shaping political power and national strength. Haushofer's ideas influenced various political movements in the early 20th century, particularly in Nazi Germany. Haushofer was also a professor at the University of Munich and founded the journal Zeitschrift für Geopolitik. His work combined elements of geography, history, and sociology, and he advocated for the concept of Lebensraum, or "living space," which argued that nations needed to expand their territories to thrive.