Prussian King Used 'Reverse Psychology' To End Country's Famine

Famine. Disease. War. Rulers avoid these catastrophes at all costs to retain power, even if they create their own disaster in the process. That's why, when King Frederick the Great of Prussia was suddenly faced with a potential famine, he used reverse psychology in an effort to get the people to save themselves.

Widespread Hunger

For all its wealth and military might, the Prussian Empire was on the brink of destruction, all because it couldn't feed its people. King Frederick the Great had done much to modernize his kingdom, but this issue kept him up at night. He knew if he didn't produce a solution, it could be his head served on a silver platter.

Unfamiliar Plants

Many crops were failing, while nutrient-rich foods were in short supply. Frederick saw the traditional agricultural staples couldn't pull Prussia out of the famine. However, as a curious mind, he did keep tabs on foods brought over from the New World.

Columbian Exchange

When Europeans made contact with the Americas centuries earlier, a rapid exchange of items between the two hemispheres followed. Many goods were instantly widespread, like spices and tobacco. But European society outright rejected some American staples, which can be hard to believe, given that they're a foundation of our diet today.

Farming Revolution

But we have Frederick to thank for popularizing one key vegetable. As he watched his peasants starve and his fellow nobles suffer from malnutrition — while still gorging themselves on empty calories — the Prussian ruler put his faith in a miracle crop. He soon had to stifle a rebellion once farmers learned what he intended to grow.