Price Revolution and Silver Influx

Timeline

1. 1545–1630Potosí · PotosíAfter the discovery of the Potosí silver mine in 1545, silver output in Peru and Mexico surged; the Spanish colonial empire shipped vast quantities of silver to Europe via Seville, forming the material basis of the Price Revolution.
2. 1631–1640Manila–Acapulco route · ManilaIn the 1630s Spanish treasure fleets and Manila galleons continued operating, circulating American silver globally along two main routes: via Europe and via China. China exchanged silk and porcelain for silver, while European grain prices and wages lagged behind silver coin supply, with inflationary pressure appearing simultaneously across Eurasia.
3. c. 1550–1640Spain · SpainEuropean grain and handicraft prices rose significantly from the 16th to 17th centuries; nobles with fixed land rents benefited while wage earners suffered. In the 1630s the Spanish royal finances fell into crisis due to silver inflows and war expenditures, intertwining the Price Revolution with imperial decline.