Freites Y
Departamento de Estudio de la Ciencia, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientificas, Caracas, Venezuela.
Dynamis. 1997;17:165-91.
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.
加拉加斯省本土精英阶层的一部分，由地主和商人组成，他们很晚才意识到知识和技术对殖民地发展的重要性。这种意识始于他们通过加拉加斯皇家商会（1789年）的运作开始参与新近统一的大陆省份（现今的委内瑞拉）的治理之时。尽管商会具有商业法庭的职能，但它也负责促进这些省份的农业和贸易发展。商会成员关注提高和增加农业生产力所需的科学知识和技术人员的短缺，以及殖民地的贸易基础设施。这是商会赞助在加拉加斯建立一所数学学院项目的有力理由。然而，这引发了与本土精英的另一个群体的冲突：大学的学者们。尽管他们受到启蒙思想的影响，但他们不理解教导年轻人将数学应用于实用工艺的必要性。
