Administration of Mining, Science, and Technology in Europe in the Age of American Silver (1550–1700)

Abstract

This chapter studies the role of American silver as a catalyst of change in European administration and science. During the age of American silver (ca. 1550–1700), public administration of mining-related science and technology in Europe was closely connected to the Spanish American silver mining sector. American silver acted as an ambivalent agent, as it led to both cooperation and competition in the European silver mining sector. Impulses from America contributed to the rise of mineralogy and early geology in regions such as Saxony and Spain during the late sixteenth century. The cooperation between mining engineers and administration also facilitated a transfer of new technologies during the early seventeenth century. In addition, it led to a professionalization of public mining administration in the Habsburg Empire in the late seventeenth century.