Managing Mineral Growth in Early Modern Mining

Author(s)
Sebastian Felten
Abstract

This essay explores how the analogy between vegetable, animal, and mineral growth—common in early modern Europe—informed economic thinking. It proceeds by analyzing a scholarly text emerging from Central European mining, the Berg-Chronica of the Saxon court historiographer Petrus Albinus, within two contexts: natural philosophy (both learned and vernacular) and the management of mines. The provision of precious and useful metals by Nature/God was thought to occur slowly. Taking a long view on mineral provision was fostered by the increasingly bureaucratic management of mines in Central Europe.

Organisation(s)
Department of History
Journal
Isis
Volume
114
Pages
626-630
No. of pages
5
ISSN
0021-1753
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1086/726184
Publication date
09-2023
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
603123 History of science
ASJC Scopus subject areas
History, Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous), History and Philosophy of Science
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/7c35c07c-473c-4c86-bb32-bea849984e77