The Silver Mountain: Potosí and Spain's Economic Miracle

In this milestone 100th episode, Lucas and Luna explore the economic engine behind Spain's golden age: the Cerro Rico of Potosí. Discover how a mountain of silver in modern-day Bolivia transformed the Spanish Empire, funded armies and navies, and reshaped global trade. Lucas explains the mita labor system, the invention of mercury amalgamation, and the staggering scale of silver production—over 40,000 tons shipped to Europe. They discuss the impact on indigenous communities, the rise of inflation in Spain, and the legendary 'potosí' coin that became the world's first global currency. Lucas also shares the story of the mint of Potosí and the scandal of the 'potosí peso' that flooded China. Tune in for a deep dive into the economic history that made Spain a superpower—and nearly broke it. #Potosí #CerroRico #SilverMountain #SpanishEmpire #Mita #MercuryAmalgamation #GlobalTrade #Inflation #PotosiPeso #ChinaTrade #ViceroyaltyPeru #Conquistadors #MiningHistory #EconomicHistory #ColonialSpain #WorldHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo