The Potato Meets Europe

Before we explore the effects of the Great Potato Famine in Ireland, first lets look at how the potato came to Ireland. The potato is believed to have originated in the southern Peru around 3,000-7,000 years ago. In 1532, the Spanish arrived in South America where they encountered the potato for the first time. The Spanish brought the potato back to Europe, where it spread slowly throughout the different countries. Although it was not liked at first, it slowly became popular because of its hardy growing capabilities, easy preparation, and dense nutritional content. By the 1600's, the potato had found its way to Ireland. Unlike the rest of Europe, the Irish welcomed the potato into their diet very quickly because it was an extremely easy crop to grow that produced a large amount in a small area of land. By 1800, the potato was a staple food for almost all of Ireland. It even is believed to be the cause of a huge population increase between 1780 and 1841, where Ireland's population doubled. Without the constant threat of starvation, the Irish people were able to live healthier, longer lives because of the potato. This crop was so important in the daily diet of the Irish, it was common to have the potato at every meal. Clearly, a decrease in potato production would have a great affect on the Irish people.

Source: http://www.history-magazine.com/potato.html