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In 1545, a native Andean prospector hit pay dirt on a desolate red mountain in highland Bolivia. There followed the world's greatest silver bonanza, making the Cerro Rico or ";Rich Hill"; and the Imperial Villa of Potosí instant legends, famous from Istanbul to Beijing. The Cerro Rico alone provided over half of the world's silver for a century, and even in decline, it remained the single richest source on earth. Potosí is the first interpretive history of the fabled mining city's rise and fall. It tells the story of global economic transformation and the environmental and social impact of rampant colonial exploitation from Potosí's startling emergence in the 16th century to its collapse in the 19th. Throughout, Kris Lane's invigorating narrative offers rare details of this thriving city and its promise of prosperity. A new world of native workers, market women, African slaves, and other ordinary residents who lived alongside the elite merchants, refinery owners, wealthy widows, and crown officials, emerge in lively, riveting stories from the original sources. An engrossing depiction of excess and devastation, Potosí reveals the relentless human tradition in boom times and bust.

Silver mines and mining --- History. --- 16th century to 19th century. --- african slaves. --- crown officials. --- elite merchants. --- excess and devastation. --- global economic transformation. --- history of fabled mining city. --- human traditions in boom times and bust. --- market women. --- native workers. --- provided half of worlds silver. --- refinery owners. --- rise and decline of potosi. --- single richest source on earth. --- wealthy widows. --- worlds greatest silver bonanza.