Page 36 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol III

gold and silver 855

Saving Souls vs.
Taking Gold

In the following extract (c. 1530), Father Berna-
dino de Minaya relates his fervent desire to bring Yukon Territory-Alaska (1896–1898). Silver rushes oc-
Christianity to the native peoples of the West curred in Nevada (1850s–1870s).These rushes created
Indies, in opposition to Pizarro’s goal of taking new communities and brought people from different
their gold. parts of the world together in a surge of economic
activity.
We proceeded to the coast of Peru, finding
Gold and silver were originally traded by weight in
deserted villages wherever the Spaniards had
various forms, but no consistency in purity and size
passed; and after travelling a few days greatly
existed. This lack of consistency led to the standardiza-
in need, we reached Pizarro...They wanted to
tion of traded gold and silver and eventually to the cre-
ship the Indians assigned to their service to be
ation of coins.The first known precious metal coins were
sold in Panama in return for wine, vinegar and
made by the nation of Lydia (Turkey) around 600 BCE.
oil. When I learned of this I advised them...that
Today we still speak of someone “being as rich as Croe-
His Majesty the Emperor had ordered that the
sus,” who was a king of Lydia (560 BCE). The less com-
Indians should not be enslaved even though
mon gold became reserved for royalty and government
they were the aggressors....I told Pizarro that
use, whereas the more common silver became the main
....God had made the Indies known in order
trade metal for business.
that souls should be won for the Faith, and
The search for gold and silver and the control of
that this was the aim of the Pope and the
their sources have had a significant influence on human
Emperor....and that it was in order that the
history as a motivation for exploration, trade, and con-
Indians should be brought to a knowledge of
flicts.The story of Jason and the Argonauts (1200 BCE)
God and not be robbed and despoiled of their
is about Greeks exploring the Black Sea region for gold.
lands that they were given in trust to the
The “golden fleece” of that story was the sheepskin that
Catholic Sovereigns, as is stated in the Bull of
was used to catch gold in the water troughs used in the
Pope Alexander granting the Indies to Spain.
early mining process. Gold and silver were sent from
Pizarro replied that he had come from Mexico
Europe to China in exchange for silk and other goods
to take their gold away from the Indians, and
over the Silk Road through central Asia (200 BCE to the
that he would not do what I asked. And thus
late 1300s). Gold was brought through Tombouctou
I bade him farewell with my companions, al-
(Timbuktu, founded in 1100 CE) in present-day Mali,
though he pleaded with me not to go, and
Africa, on its way north to be traded for salt on the trans-
offered me my share of the gold which they
Saharan trade route.The exploration of Mexico, Central
had obtained in the villages. I told him that I
America,and SouthAmerica by Europeans and their fre-
wanted no part of any illgotten gold, and that
quent conflicts with native peoples were driven by the
I did not wish by my presence to countenance
search for gold and silver.
such robbery.
The commercial roles of gold and silver have been
Source: Williams, E. (1994). Documents of West Indian history (p. 136). Brook- changing since the 1900s. Gold has limited use as a
lyn, NY: A&B Books. (Original work published 1963)
medium of exchange but continues as a store of value
held by governments and individuals, with a significant
Historically, when a large source of gold or silver was use in jewelry. Silver has become more important for its
discovered, the discovery often created a “rush” as peo- use in industrial and photography products than in
ple desperate to become wealthier tried to find the pre- coins and decorations.
cious metals. Gold rushes occurred in California (1848),
Australia (1850), South Africa (1850s–1880s), and Gary A. Campbell