How gold changed the world

The historical role of gold is not limited to the sphere of finance. For centuries, the yellow metal has inspired people to explore and conquer new territories. Many millionaire cities would never have appeared on the map, if not for gold.

Let's see what changes have occurred in different parts of the world thanks to the influence of the valuable metal.

Brazil

In the 1690s, when Brazil was still a Portuguese colony, a large gold deposit was discovered in the future state of Minas Gerais (in Portuguese: “general mines”). People were leaving the northeastern cities en masse, seeking fortune in the mines. By 1725, half of Brazil's population already lived in the gold-bearing southeast. Within a couple of decades, Rio de Janeiro became a major city, and in 1763, it was declared the new capital, maintaining this status until 1960.

The Brazilian gold rush* has become the largest one in world history: about a million people participated in it, resulting in huge cash flows for the local economy.

In the photo: today the old Minas Gerais mines are open to public.

North America

Massive gold rushes were booming across the continent regularly. The mining of the yellow metal had led to the emergence of the state of Colorado in the United States, and the province of British Columbia in Canada.

The California Gold Rush, which began in 1848, is the best known among others. Thanks to it, California turned into a prosperous region, becoming a part of the United States in an expeditious manner. In just four years, the state’s population had increased 18 times. San Francisco and Los Angeles had evolved from small settlements to thriving cities. To this day, California remains the richest and most successful US state, which was officially named "golden" by the decision of the Legislative Assembly.

In the photo: San Francisco at the height of the gold rush in 1851. Some ships had to wait their turn at the port for several days before passengers could go ashore.

Australia

The discovery of gold in the mid-19th century helped the British colony cope with poverty and become an attractive place to live. Queensland managed to avoid bankruptcy and pay off its debts. Melbourne had become one of the largest cities in the British Empire and around the world. Over the twenty-year gold rush, Australia’s population had tripled, a railway network had been built in the country, and significant social and political reforms had been undertaken.

In the photo: Australian gold miners of the 19th century.

South Africa

In 1886, gold was discovered in the Witwatersrand mountains. Prospectors who arrived there founded the Johannesburg settlement. In order to supply coal to the rapidly growing city, the first railway in South African Republic was built stretching from the mines of Boksburg. Johannesburg is still the largest city in South Africa, as well as its financial and economic hub.

In the photo: Johannesburg is a metropolis that sprang up thanks to gold.

It is impossible to imagine the history of mankind without the yellow metal. Geographical discoveries, industrial development, economic transformations, we owe a lot to gold. In the 21st century, it has not lost its relevance, remaining a protective asset to ensure Financial Security.

Just like in the old days, the noble metal serves as a source of prosperity for millions of people. Today you no longer need to travel to faraway lands and exhaust yourself with hard work in mines. Modern Internet technologies enable mining physical gold using only your mind. Anyone can become a gold prospector in the digital age regardless of location, improving one’s well-being by the means of a treasure that has changed the world.

Glossary:

*Gold rush — a disorganized massive onrush of miners seeking gold in newly discovered goldfields.