Andean Potato Cultivation

Timeline

1. c. -8000–-2500Lake Titicaca site area · Puno RegionArchaeological remains show ancestors selecting tuber crops from wild relatives and developing freeze-drying and pit-storage techniques to cope with Andean diurnal temperature swings and the dry season.
2. 1431–1440Cusco imperial heartland · Cusco RegionThe Inca state incorporated potatoes into the mit'a corvée and tribute system, growing hundreds of local varieties on terraces at 3000–4000 meters, and used qollqa storehouses and the road network to buffer famines and supply imperial armies on campaign.
3. 1570–1800Western European agricultural regions · Western EuropeSpanish colonists brought potatoes to Europe, where after long adaptation they became a staple in Ireland, Central Europe, and elsewhere, fundamentally changing Old World agricultural structure and carrying capacity.