USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The spud that could: potatoes and populations Crops from the Americas saved millions of people in Afro-Eurasia from starvation. The extra nutrition provided by potatoes, maize (corn), and other American crops caused the world’s population to rise after 1500.

Detailed explanation-2: -They were initially popular in Spain because they provided cheap sustenance for the poor. It wasn’t long before they were in demand throughout the continent as a food that was easy to grow and highly nutritious. Today, potatoes are a staple for people all over Europe.

Detailed explanation-3: -The new crops of potatoes made a great change in the lives of the poor in Europe because they began to eat better and live longer. In Ireland poorest peasants became so dependent that when disease destroyed the potato crop in the mid 1840s, thousands died of starvation.

Detailed explanation-4: -Throughout Europe, the most important new food in the 19th century was the potato, which had three major advantages over other foods for the consumer: its lower rate of spoilage, its bulk (which easily satisfied hunger) and its cheapness.