The Conversation

Mining conquistadors caused air pollution 200 years before the industrial revolution

09-02-2015 Author: The Conversation

Conquer Chile? But we don't have the carbon budget.Fundación de Santiago (1888) by Pedro Lira

When the Spanish conquered South America in the 16th century they took over the Incas' mines and soon began to pump clouds of lead dust over the Andes. The silver the conquistadors sent back home made them wealthy. It also made them the...

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