Over 70% of Galicia’s population lived off the land. Existence seemed simple, with thatched huts, no running water, electricity, machines, and occasional armies marching through the mountain passes. Yet, agricultural productivity was one of the lowest in Europe because of primitive farm techniques, many little different from those used in the Middle Ages. There were famines in 1847, 1849, 1855, 1865, 1876, and 1889, with thousands starving. It seemed hopeless, and people left for a better life in the New World. Adding to the departure were the inheritance laws adopted in 1868, which stated that the land should be equally divided among the sons of a peasant. Galician peasants had large families, and the area was described as the most overpopulated place in Europe. The land was divided into so many small holdings that farming became uneconomical. In 1899, 80% of the plots had fewer than 5 acres, and many needed more food on their plots to support their families.