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> The US economy around 1800 was the first economy in history to produce a consistent food surplus. Poland was a big exporter of food (mostly grain) around XV
by badpun 7y ago
> The US economy around 1800 was the first economy in history to produce a consistent food surplus.
Poland was a big exporter of food (mostly grain) around XV and XVI century. There was also no hunger in the country, which means that the exported grain constituted a pretty consistent surplus.
- WalterBright 7y agoCountries have exported food at least since Roman times. Much of the ancient Mediterranean shipping was transporting food. Hunger was still a constant specter, though. Consider the rise in height in Americans after this achievement. This doesn't happen without plenty of food available all the time. I'm old now. It wasn't until a couple years ago that I EVER went 24 hours without food (I was experimenting with fasting). Historically speaking, that is incredible.