The Sauerland district in Germany is an example of a predominantly rural area in which small “isles” of industrialized mining developed during the nineteenth century. Ludwig traces the history of mining and smelting in Ramsbeck, showing how conflicting interests between mining and agriculture were negotiated. Although the mine owners had high hopes of an economic take-off in the 1850s, even comparing it to the mining boom in California, these hopes failed to materialize and real growth only happened later.
DOI: doi.org/10.5282/rcc/6202
