The dramatic population explosion that occurred in Europe and around the world in the 1600s is most attributed to the . A. introduction of high-calorie crops from the Americas B. invention of the steel plow C. utilization of animals in the fields for labor D. development of agriculture

The dramatic explosion that occurred during this period is most attributed to the introduction of high-calorie crops from the Americas.

Explanation:

Before the 1600s, Europe and many other regions in the world had a big problem with famine. The crops were suficient to support the population, but the problem was that it was just about enough, so minor problems meant famine. Having famines on a regular basis resulted in people dying relatively young, or a big percentage of the children were not reaching adulthood.

This changed dramatically when the Europeans discovered the Americas and with many crops, some of which were very high in calories. Naturally, these crops were introduced in Europe and the other regions, and these crops (especially the potatoes, corn, and maize) contributed to a larger production of food, but also food that was more nutritious, thus the famines became a rarity. Because the people had much better and more stable food sources they lived longer and the mortality among children dropped significantly so the population started to experience rapid growth.