Gary Leggett Cahuas

This article approaches the urbanistic history of mining in Peru. It primarily focuses on the case of Potosi, resulting paradigmatical in the discusion of the development of the principal mining towns in the Colonial period. The investigation is divided in four parts: the first one presents a general panorama of the worldwide fame Potosí adquired in the 16th century, the second describes its develpment in relation to the growth of the mining industry, the third is an account of the gradual decline the city experienced during the 17th century, and finally, the fourth presents a parallel between Potosi´s regional role in America (as the center of extraction and distribution of riches) and Spain´s mercantil condition in relation to the development of capitalism in Europe.
Key words: Potosí, colonial mining in Latin America, mining towns, colonial industry, mita.

	Resumen Industria, crisis y urbanismo en la villa colonial de Potosí (S. XVI-XVII).
	Este artículo postula un análisis urbanístico de la historia minera del Perú. Se ocupa, principalmente, del caso de Potosí, que resulta paradigmático al discutir la evolución de los principales centros mineros de la época colonial. La investigación se divide en cuatro partes: la primera esboza un panorama general de la fama mundial que adquirió Potosí entre los siglos XVI y XVIII, la segunda describe el desarrollo de Potosí con relación al crecimiento de su industria, la tercera habla del proceso de fenecimiento paulatino que experimentó la urbe a partir del siglo XVII, y la cuarta hace un paralelo entre la posición regional de Potosí en América (como centro de explotación y repartición de riquezas) y la condición mercantil de España con respecto al desarrollo del capitalismo europeo. Palabras claves: Potosí, urbanismo colonial, ciudades mineras, industria y colonialismo, mita.

	Abstract Colonial villa of Potosi: industry, crisis and urbanism (S. XVI-XVII).
	This article approaches the urbanistic history of mining in Peru. It primarily focuses on the case of Potosi, resulting paradigmatical in the discusion of the development of the principal mining towns in the Colonial period. The investigation is divided in four parts: the first one presents a general panorama of the worldwide fame Potosí adquired in the 16th century, the second describes its develpment in relation to the growth of the mining industry, the third is an account of the gradual decline the city experienced during the 17th century, and finally, the fourth presents a parallel between Potosi´s regional role in America (as the center of extraction and distribution of riches) and Spain´s mercantil condition in relation to the development of capitalism in Europe. Key words: Potosí, colonial mining in Latin America, mining towns, colonial industry, mita.