Resources, society and environment: The gold cycle in environmental organization of the highland territory of San Luis Providence of the XVIII century (Argentina)

Abstract

This article deals with the reconstruction of the enviroment during the golden century in San Luis (Argentina), a marginal area of Latin America in the 18th century, study that will lead us to the relations among the economic activities, the environmental configuration of the territory and the society. Five central aspects will be pro-posed: the phases of mining and the movement of population; the problems with the enviroment; the scope and limits of the available technology; the economic and politi-cal valuation by the State; and the forms of occupation of the area.