Time, movement, prices.:The routes of N.M. Rothschild's Spanish Quicksilver between Almadén, London and Potosí. 1835-1848

摘要

In the 19th century, quicksilver was an essential ingredient in the production of silver bullion, and from 1835 the supply from the great Spanish mine of Almadén was monopolized by NM Rothschild of London. From the perspective of “connected histories”, I compare transport costs in England and Bolivia for Almaden quicksilver destined for Potosí and Oruro, as well as shipping expenses from Liverpool to Valparaiso and Cobija. Although English canal transport with barges and animal traction was more punctual, animal transport in Bolivia meant a big injection of liquidity into the South Andean internal market, articulating Boivian protectionism with oceanic liberalism thanks to the demand for means of exchange in the Andes.