EPISODE · May 17, 2026 · 6 MIN
The Silver of Potosí: From Cerro Rico to the World Economy
from The Story of Spain: Empire, Gold, and Global Power — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
Lucas and Luna explore the episode that hasn't been told before: the inner workings of Potosí's silver production and its global economic aftermath. They go beyond the mountain's fame to discuss the ingenios (silver mills), the mercury trade from Huancavelica, the mita labor system, and how Potosí's silver ended up financing Spanish wars and flooding into Ming China. Learn about the toqui of the Quillacas, the yanaconas, and the bagong Chinese merchants who exchanged silk for Spanish pieces of eight. This episode is a deep dive into the economic and human machinery behind the silver mountain. #Potosí #CerroRico #SilverMining #Mita #Huancavelica #Yanacona #Ingenios #Quillacas #MingDynasty #PiecesOfEight #ManilaGalleon #SpanishEmpire #ColonialEconomy #GlobalTrade #Mercury #AndeanHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Silver of Potosí: From Cerro Rico to the World Economy
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