Cerro De Potosi

Summary

JCB Archive of Early American Images, 08040, Cerro De Potosi.Ce.

This image vividly depicts life for many indigenous Andean Peruvians during the Spanish colonial period in Latin America. It takes place in Cero Potosi, known for being the biggest cash cow of the Spanish crown and the colonial period. While becoming the main outlet of the world's silver it was also responsible for the terror, suffering, torture, and death of many indigenous Peruvians. As discussed in class the Spanish monarch classified its subjects in a Caste system that would place Peninsulars at the top. This established automatic control and authority over indigenous communities and any others conquered by the Spanish empire. Indigenous communities throughout Latin America outnumbered colonizers but many it wouldn’t be enough to protect themselves against armed white men. They were also coerced to comply with the Spaniards if not they’d have to deal with the brutal punishments.
The mines at Potosi Mountain were a nightmare for indigenous communities under the Spanish monarch. At the bottom left of the image, is a public display of a beheaded man on a spear in what the archival description describes as the town square. This act of violence was one of many Indigenous Peruvians had to endure as their labor was a necessity in the production of silver in the colonial market trade. In Charles Walker, “The Tupac Amaru Rebellion” indigenous Peruvians were forced to work in Potosi without pay under the Mita system. The Spanish mita was inspired by the Incan mita system. The Spaniards' Mita system required men to work in Potosi mines as it was a form of tax for them from the Spanish Empire. This financial burden on Indigenous people forced many of them to sell their property to fund the relocation of their family to Potosi. Potosi wouldn’t be remembered as a beautiful geographical wonder but instead as “the mines at Potosi mountains.”

Works Cited:
Walker, Charles F. The Tupac Amaru Rebellion. Cambridge: Belknap Press, 2014.