title: [The problem of knowledge among enlightened landowners and merchants in the province of Caracas, Venezuela (1793-1810)].
abstract: Part of the native elite of the province of Caracas, consisting of landowners and merchants, were slow to become aware of the importance of knowledge and technique for the development of the colony. Awareness came from the moment when they began to participate in the government of the recently unified Tierra Firme provinces (currently Venezuela), through the operation of the Real Consulado de Caracas (1789). Although the consulate had mercantile court functions, it was also responsible for stimulating the development of agriculture and trade in the provinces. The Consuls were concerned with the lack of scientific knowledge and technical personnel needed to improve and increase agricultural productivity, and also with the colony's trade infrastructure. This was a powerful reason for the Consulate to sponsor the project of a Mathematics Academy in Caracas. However, this led to a conflict with another sector of the native elite: academicians at the university. Although influenced by Enlightment ideas, they did not understand the need to instruct young persons in mathematics as applied to the practical crafts.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Estudio de la Ciencia, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Caracas, Venezuela.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Freites
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000266:history*; D003132:Commerce / Q000266:history*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D019359:Knowledge; D012586:Science / Q000266:history*; D014687:Venezuela
vernacular_title: El problema del saber entre hacendados y comerciantes ilustrados de la provincia de Caracas-Venezuela (1793-1810).