Rice introduced to the West

What might the impact be if rice (Asian or African) were introduced to the West during, say, the Roman period, or even earlier, and adopted? What might the impact be on Europe in terms of agriculture and demographics?
 
It was already. But wheat grows better than rice in Europe. In fact, northern China grows more wheat than rice too, that being one of the big differences between northern and southern China.
 
It was already. But wheat grows better than rice in Europe. In fact, northern China grows more wheat than rice too, that being one of the big differences between northern and southern China.

Depends, in certain wet and marshy regions like the Po Valley rice was capable of high yields. The problem with rice was the need to have good irrigation systems, marsh reclamation, and skilled labour all of which involve high capital costs. That compared to the lower cost for wheat meant that it was only desirable once parts of Europe was rich enough and labour & land expensive enough.
 
Depends, in certain wet and marshy regions like the Po Valley rice was capable of high yields. The problem with rice was the need to have good irrigation systems, marsh reclamation, and skilled labour all of which involve high capital costs. That compared to the lower cost for wheat meant that it was only desirable once parts of Europe was rich enough and labour & land expensive enough.
Meaning at that time Italy and Southern Europe.
 
Now why would we do that when slaves in Egypt and the Black Sea are producing all the grain you need.

Profit? If rice develops a reputation as a prestige or luxury food for the elite and the wealthy, it would command a premium price. That could make it worthwhile to grow in suitable regions even though there was a sufficient grain supply.
 
Also you would need to introduce water buffalo earlier than it was. Only those animals can plow those muddy fields with out damage to their hooves.
 
Now why would we do that when slaves in Egypt and the Black Sea are producing all the grain you need.
Rice can and has been grown in that Nile river delta as well. But I get your point, I think it would add to the diet of the people's maybe seen as citrus and apples once were, rare and expensive.
 
Profit? If rice develops a reputation as a prestige or luxury food for the elite and the wealthy, it would command a premium price. That could make it worthwhile to grow in suitable regions even though there was a sufficient grain supply.

It tended to be a prestige food even in areas where it was a staple, precisely because it was more expensive to produce.

In Kerala in South India for example, the diet of the poor was bulked out by millet and (later on, tapioca) while a fully rice-based diet was the preserve of the wealthy.
 
Profit? If rice develops a reputation as a prestige or luxury food for the elite and the wealthy, it would command a premium price. That could make it worthwhile to grow in suitable regions even though there was a sufficient grain supply.

Yet it clearly didn't. Transplanting rice isn't as easy as you think, you need irrigation works already present and willingness to transform disease prone diseases. Then you need a sizable amount of skilled rice farmers, not exactly in abundance in the Mediterranean. Rome in comparison had all of Gaul and Darcia to farm, they were not short on land like the Chinese (not to mention all the barbaric lands past the Elba).
 
There aren't a lot of places in Europe, North Africa and western Asia that are well suited to wet rice farming, really. Much of the Mediterranean is too dry and rocky for it, and to the north, mountain chains get in the way. Assuming the introduction happened earlier than OTL, I suspect we would see much the same development as we did in reality: it is adopted in the areas that are best suited (river valleys and estuaries) and grown as a cash crop. Eventually, it would become a local staple, but much like grünkern or buckwheat, it would always be limited to a niche.
 
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