Publications
Memories and Social Struggles in Contemporary Bolivia
Collective memories serve as powerful platforms structuring activism during periods of intense social struggle and political change, according to research on Bolivia's contemporary conflicts. The study reveals that activists leverage historical narratives—such as the anti-colonial rebellion of Tupac Katari and Bartolina Sisa, the War of the Pacific, and the rise and fall of Potosí—as constitutive and instrumental tools in their movements. These memories exhibit path-dependent continuity, shaping activism during the 'Gas War' (2003), conflicts in El Alto, and the 2010 civic strike in Potosí. The analysis employs three case studies to demonstrate how such narratives are mobilized to make sense of contemporary struggles, offering an innovative framework for understanding memory's role in social movements.
Efectos sociales y laborales en las familias del Municipio de Potosí ocasionadas por el COVID-19
COVID-19 significantly exacerbated social and labor challenges for families in the Municipality of Potosí, Bolivia. The study revealed that intra-family conflicts were predominantly driven by economic instability, unemployment, and informality in regional productive activities, compounded by the risk of coronavirus infection or death. Methodologically, the research adopted a descriptive approach, gathering data from surveys of union federation directors—considered highly vulnerable to the pandemic—and interviews with experts in economics, social services, and health, selected through intentional sampling. This comprehensive analysis underscores the profound impact of the pandemic on livelihoods and family dynamics in one of Latin America's most affected regions.
Object, Room, Dwelling: Material Culture and the Indigenous City in the Colonial Andes
Colonial Andean cities preserved Indigenous and mestiza cultural, social, and architectural identities despite Spanish influence. This study reveals that material culture—such as the topu (Indigenous dress pin) and household objects—and domestic structures encoded Indigenous urban experiences. Analyzing notarial and judicial records from Arequipa, La Plata (Sucre), and Potosí (1500s–1600s), researchers found that inventories of city dwellers' possessions and home designs reflected enduring Indigenous practices. The findings demonstrate how built environments and everyday objects served as markers of resistance and continuity in colonial spaces.
Potosí in the Global Silver Age (16th—19th Centuries)
Potosí, Bolivia, stands out as the world's single-richest silver deposit, playing a pivotal role in global capitalism during the 16th to 19th centuries. This book delves into the political economy of silver production and its circulation, revealing how Potosí's mining activities shaped both local and global landscapes. It examines the establishment and evolution of a complex infrastructure, highlighting changes over time and their impact on human and environmental systems. The study integrates geology, sacred spaces, technical knowledge, environmental history, labor dynamics, and silver flows, offering a multidisciplinary perspective. Based on extensive archival research by 11 international contributors, this work provides cutting-edge insights into Potosí's significance as a major commodity producer.
Potosí Revisited
Research reveals that the exploitation of the Potosí mine predates the Spanish conquest, dating back to the Tiwanaku collapse around 1000–1100 AD. The study integrates metallogenic processes, archival documents, linguistic analysis, and archaeology to demonstrate a continuous religious and cultural connection between pre-Hispanic Andean knowledge and mining practices. Notably, the discovery of a shrine guarded by felines in 1545 is linked to indigenous metallogenic understanding, which was intertwined with religious beliefs, including the worship of a feline deity tied to the Sun cult. The Collas, a Pukina-speaking chiefdom, likely originated from Tiwanaku, and their shamanic cults persisted through Inca integration, reflecting enduring spiritual and political dynamics in Andean mining traditions.
The Silver of Potosí, 1580–1630
Potosí silver dominated Latin American silver production between 1580 and 1630, constituting nearly all of Peru's output during that period. The study reveals three primary export routes: illegal Pacific trade to New Spain and China, the Portobelo-Seville connection, and the Buenos Aires-Iberian Peninsula-Africa route. Peruleros, key agents in silver mobilization, played a crucial role in distributing this metal capital globally, particularly to China. Potosí emerged as both a major producer-distributor and a hub for international goods consumption, positioning it as a pivotal node in early economic globalization.
Transmission Vector of E. Coli in Different Areas of the City of Potosí and Its Impact on the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda
A concerning environmental health threat has been identified in the City of Potosí, where the transmission of E. coli poses significant risks to public health and well-being. The study reveals that many areas lack adequate prevention mechanisms, exacerbating a pressing epidemiological issue. Using a descriptive methodology with a cross-sectional approach, researchers assessed the incidence of E. coli across different regions, highlighting its potential impact on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined in the UN's 2030 Agenda. The findings underscore the need for urgent action to mitigate or eradicate the spread of this bacterium, which not only affects health outcomes but also threatens regional sustainability efforts.
Monitoreo ambiental de concentración de aire saturado y partículas PM2.5 para la prevención de la Salud Ocupacional en la Ciudad de Potosí a 4000m.s.n.m.
Densely concentrated or saturated air clouds significantly increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, particularly in high-altitude urban environments like Potosí (4000m.a.s.l.). Research indicates that such conditions, exceeding climate comfort levels (45% to 70%), elevate the likelihood of COVID-19 contagion through aerosolized particles. The study highlights that symptomatic individuals, as well as those presymptomatic or asymptomatic, can spread the virus via air clouds adhering to clothing or biological systems. Environmental monitoring of saturated air and PM2.5 particles in health facilities—especially dental and emergency settings—revealed critical gaps in ventilation, exacerbating transmission risks during peak occupancy. The findings underscore the need for improved ventilation mechanisms to mitigate aerosol-based transmission in densely populated or poorly ventilated spaces.
Pandemic in Potosí
A devastating and highly contagious disease, likely the most destructive in South America since the Spanish conquest, struck Potosí in 1719, killing over a third of its population within a year. This 'Gran Peste' was documented extensively by local historian Bartolomé Arzáns de Orsúa y Vela, who lived through the pandemic and attributed it with cosmic significance. His narrative, translated for the first time, provides rich details on therapeutics, devotional life, class relations, gender, race, and conceptions of illness during this major public health crisis. The account also offers a comparative perspective on past and present disease encounters, contributing valuable insights to fields such as Latin American history, history of medicine, urban studies, and epidemiology.
Mining City: Potosí - Potosí: The Silver City That Changed the World. By Kris Lane. Oakland: University of California Press, 2019. Pp. 272. Illustrations. Maps. Appendix. Glossary. Notes. Bibliographical essay. Select bibliography. Index. $32.95 cloth.
Potosí, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a testament to the profound impact of silver mining on global history. Kris Lane's 'Mining City: Potosí' reveals how this Bolivian city, once the world's largest silver producer, reshaped economies and societies from the 16th to 20th centuries. The book highlights Potosí's role in fueling European wealth, driving inflation through the influx of American silver, and creating a complex social structure that reflected colonial power dynamics. Lane employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating historical records, economic data, and archaeological evidence to unravel the city's layered narratives. This comprehensive analysis underscores Potosí's significance not only as an industrial marvel but also as a microcosm of global interconnectedness during the early modern period.
Potosí: the silver city that changed the world
Potosí, the historic silver city in Bolivia, stands as a pivotal case study in global economic and social transformation. Kris Lane's work reveals how Potosí's vast silver deposits, discovered in 1545, fueled the Spanish Empire's economy, reshaping global trade networks and labor systems. The research employs a 'longue durée' approach, tracing Potosí's evolution from its founding to the wars of independence, highlighting its role as a microcosm of colonial exploitation and indigenous resilience. This study underscores Potosí's enduring legacy in shaping world history through its economic dominance and complex social dynamics.
Potosí: The Silver City That Changed The World
Potosí, the historic silver city in Bolivia, stands as a testament to the profound global impact of its silver mining during colonial times. The study highlights how Potosí's vast silver deposits, exploited extensively from the 16th century onward, became the backbone of the Spanish Empire's economy and reshaped global trade dynamics. The research underscores the city's role in facilitating the transatlantic slave trade, as African labor was brought to sustain the grueling mining operations. Additionally, it explores Potosí's architectural and urban development, which reflects the convergence of European, Indigenous, and African influences, creating a unique cultural and historical landscape. The study employs archival research and historical analysis to trace the city's economic significance, its societal transformations, and its enduring legacy as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Potosí: The Silver City That Changed the World
Potosí is recognized as one of the most significant historical subjects due to its extraordinary silver mines, which played a pivotal role in global trade, colonial society, and environmental degradation. Kris Lane's comprehensive study, 'Potosí: The Silver City That Changed the World,' highlights the city's dual nature—innovation and creation alongside archetypal violence against humans and their environment. The research meticulously uses primary sources, including colonial writings, notary records, and judicial cases from Bolivian archives, along with images and photographs, to present a nuanced narrative of Potosí's history from its discovery in 1545 through the mid-twentieth century. This approach challenges readers to confront the moral ambiguities embedded in Potosí's complex history, offering insights relevant to global historical settings.
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