In the pantheon of great Ottoman rulers, few names conjure the same combination of awe and fear as that of Sultan Selim I, known in history as Selim the Grim (Yavuz Sultan Selim). His reign, though relatively short — from 1512 to 1520 — transformed the Ottoman Empire from a powerful regional state into a true global empire. His conquests redrew

The 20th and 21st centuries saw the rise of scientific agriculture, and the potato was not left behind. Plant breeders worked to create disease-resistant varieties, increase yields, and improve storage. Modern research centers like the International Potato Center in Lima, Peru now work to combat hunger and food insecurity using the potato’s ge

While Europe grappled with famine, the potato continued its global expansion. Thanks to European colonization, trade, and migration, potatoes took root in Asia, Africa, and North America. In China, potatoes became a vital crop in the highlands, supporting rural communities and supplementing rice. In India, potatoes were introduced by the

By the early 19th century, the potato had become the engine of European population growth. Its adoption coincided with the Industrial Revolution, and it is no coincidence that countries with high potato consumption — Britain, Germany, Ireland — saw dramatic demographic expansion. According to economic historians, the potato increased food se