Potosí

Potosí is a major city located in the Department of Potosí, Bolivia.

It is recognized as one of the highest cities in the world. The city sits at the base of the massive Cerro Rico de Potosí. This mountain is often called the "rich mountain" because of its vast silver deposits. Because of its historical importance, the city center and the mountain are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The local climate is a rare, cold highland type. It is characterized by a long dry period and a short, intense wet season.

The history of Potosí began with the discovery of silver in 1545. An indigenous prospector named Diego Huallpa is traditionally credited with this find. This discovery caused the city to grow with incredible speed. For many years, Cerro Rico was the primary source of silver for the Spanish Empire. It produced an estimated 60% of all the world's silver during the second half of the 16th century. This wealth made Potosí a global economic center for centuries.

Silver extraction changed as the quality of the ore changed. Initially, miners extracted oxidized ores containing native silver and silver chloride. They used small clay furnaces called guayras, a technology used by the Incas, to smelt this ore. However, by 1565, these easy-to-smelt ores were mostly exhausted. To revive production, miners adopted the patio process. This method, invented by Bartolomé de Medina in 1554, used mercury amalgamation to extract silver from lower-grade ores. Later, in 1609, a more efficient pan amalgamation process was invented right in Potosí.

The silver moved through complex global trade routes. From the mountains, it traveled via llama and mule trains to the Pacific coast. From there, it was shipped to Panama City and carried across the isthmus to Portobelo. Eventually, Spanish treasure fleets carried the silver to Spain. Some silver traveled east to Buenos Aires via the Rio de la Plata. Other silver went to Acapulco, Mexico, to be traded for Asian products via the Manila Galleons. This system connected the Andes to the rest of the world.

During the colonial era, Potosí was a massive and diverse urban center. By 1603, the population included roughly 120,000 native Andeans, 6,000 Europeans, and 5,000 Africans. The city was governed by a Spanish corregidor and a town council. It was also a center of religion, with large, decorated churches built by various orders of friars. The Spanish crown extracted great wealth through taxes, such as the quinto. This was a 20% tax on the gross value of mined materials. The silver was minted into coins, such as the two-reales piece.

Labor in the mines was provided through the mita system. This was a form of forced labor based on traditional Andean systems. The Spanish required indigenous men from a vast area to work in the mines. Each year, about 13,000 men were conscripted, which was one out of every seven adult males. These workers, called mitayos, faced extremely dangerous conditions. They carried heavy loads of 100 to 300 pounds up steep, dark ladders. Many suffered from accidents, falls, or mercury poisoning. The high altitude also made pneumonia a constant threat.

The impact of the mining industry was profound and widespread. The mita system caused massive shifts in the indigenous population. Many people fled their traditional villages to avoid the labor draft. By the late 17th century, Upper Peru had lost nearly 50% of its indigenous population. Despite these hardships, Potosí remains a vital mining center today. It still sits atop one of the largest silver deposit systems on Earth. The city continues to be the largest urban center in its department.