AH challenge: Novgorod Republic survives

POTATO.

As it being said, Novgorod was always (ok, from approx. 1000 AD) dependent on grain shipments from Central Russia and did not have good agricultural lands for grain crops. Early (by 1400 AD) introduction of potato could create self-sustainable agriculture there. IOTL Muskovy did not as much conquer Novgorod as pulled it under Grand Dukes authority using grain dependence.

Otherwise one could try to re-route Polish grain trade toward Novgorod, but it IMHO would require too many changes in Eastern Baltic area and could actually pitch Poland against Hansa.
 

Hendryk

Banned
As it being said, Novgorod was always (ok, from approx. 1000 AD) dependent on grain shipments from Central Russia and did not have good agricultural lands for grain crops. Early (by 1400 AD) introduction of potato could create self-sustainable agriculture there.
Interesting idea. So a stronger Novgorod could be a possible butterfly of an earlier discovery of America? Or even of that perennial AH sea serpent, successful Norse settlement of Vinland? (Once the Norse settlers have found out about the potato from the Mesoamericans further south, it would likely reach Novgorod in fairly short order)
 
Interesting idea. So a stronger Novgorod could be a possible butterfly of an earlier discovery of America?
Yes it could. But full-scale "discovery" of the New World will create so many changes, fate of the Novgorod will be small potato (pun intended).

Or even of that perennial AH sea serpent, successful Norse settlement of Vinland? (Once the Norse settlers have found out about the potato from the Mesoamericans further south, it would likely reach Novgorod in fairly short order)
Potato does not come from Mesoamerica, it is an Andean tuber, from Pacific coast of the South America. And here lies the problem. It's too damn far. I once tried to threw together a timeline with "quiet discovery", where Norse succeeded in establishing small logging/fishing outpost @ Newfoundland, but kept it to themselves and did not start large-scale colonization effort. Expedition from such an outpost could succeed in reaching proto-Incan empire and bringing potato back. From there it could spread to Scandinavia and Northern Europe fast. Even that will create an ungodly number of butterflies, as scorched earth policy had been preferred mode of warring in the Northern Europe for centuries. Just imagine 30-year war where both sides are unable to destroy food supply system of opponent.

Another possible scenario of Novgorod survival is it's alliance with Grand Duchy of Lithuania. But that would require tolerant and far-thinking Poles, who would give to Orthodox majority of GDL equal rights, and not only on paper. That scenario is IMHO less real than ASBs bringing potatoes to the Novgorod.
 
Another possible scenario of Novgorod survival is it's alliance with Grand Duchy of Lithuania. But that would require tolerant and far-thinking Poles, who would give to Orthodox majority of GDL equal rights, and not only on paper. That scenario is IMHO less real than ASBs bringing potatoes to the Novgorod.
Well, the Ortodoxes in GDL indeed had equal rights (I have in minds nobility) and IMO that is more real scenario than with potatoes. You need only to correct a bit outcome of civil wars in GDL (btw one possible POD I mentioned earlier in this thread).
 
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