Born at
Olmütz, in
Moravia, he received his education at the
University of Vienna (1860–64), afterwards working as a teacher in gymnasiums at
Sankt Pölten and Vienna.[2] On the strength of the first volume of Centralasiatische Studien, he was named an associate professor of geography at the
University of Graz in 1877. In 1881 he attained the rank of full professor, and in 1885, was appointed chair of
historical geography at the University of Vienna. In 1899 he became a regular member of the
Vienna Academy of Sciences.[1][3]
In 1933 the thoroughfare Tomaschekstraße, in the district of
Floridsdorf (Vienna), was named in his honor.[4]
Literary works
Centralasiatische Studien. I. Sogdiana, 1877 – Central Asian studies;
Sogdiana.
Centralasiatische Studien. II. Die Pamir-Dialekte, 1880 – Central Asian studies;
Pamir dialects.
Zur historischen Topographie von Persien. I. Die Straßenzüge der tabula Peutingeriana, 1883 – Historical topography of
Persia, The streets of
Tabula Peutingeriana.
Zur historischen Topographie von Persien. II. Die Wege durch die Persische Wüste, 1885 – Historical topography of Persia. II. Routes through the Persian desert.
Zur historischen Topographie von Kleinasien im Mittelalter, 1891 – Historical topography of
Asia Minor in the
Middle Ages.
Die alten Thraker. Eine ethnologische Untersuchung. 3 volumes. Vienna: Tempsky, 1893–1894 – The ancient
Thracians. An ethnographic study.[5]