Potosí: the silver city that changed the world

Potosí, the historic silver city in Bolivia, stands as a pivotal case study in global economic and social transformation. Kris Lane's work reveals how Potosí's vast silver deposits, discovered in 1545, fueled the Spanish Empire's economy, reshaping global trade networks and labor systems. The research employs a 'longue durée' approach, tracing Potosí's evolution from its founding to the wars of independence, highlighting its role as a microcosm of colonial exploitation and indigenous resilience. This study underscores Potosí's enduring legacy in shaping world history through its economic dominance and complex social dynamics.

Bean, R. A. (2020). Potosí: the silver city that changed the world. Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies / Revue Canadienne Des Études Latino-Américaines et Caraïbes, 46(1), 152–154. https://doi.org/10.1080/08263663.2021.1855898