Mountains of Silver: Tiny Bolivian village of Potosi was once the largest industrial mining complex in the world

Empires may rise and fall, but the impact they have on their conquered subjects and the future may continue beyond their passing, for better or for worse. The Spanish Empire, which began in the 15^th century with the colonization of the Americas, and lasted till the 19^th century, left its own mark on its colonies. One of the more tragic legacies of the Spanish Empire is the exploitation of the native population and resources. One such place where this can be seen is the city of Potosí.

Potosí is located in present day Bolivia. Located at an altitude of over 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, Potosí is one of the highest cities in the world. Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, Potosí was just a small village in the Andes. Between 1542 and 1545, however, the biggest silver lodes in the New World were discovered in the Cerro de Potosí (known also as the Cerro Rico, meaning ‘Rich Mountain’), a mountain located just to the south of the city.

The discovery resulted in the transformation of this tiny village into the largest industrial complex of the 16^th century.