The Netherlands is located in the northwest of Europe, facing Britain across the sea. It was originally the territory of the Kingdom of Spain, but in the 16th century, with its superior geographical position and advanced shipbuilding technology, it has become the most economically developed area in Western Europe, and Antwerp Port was the international trade center at that time.

The rapid economic development has contributed to the national awakening in the Netherlands, and they are increasingly dissatisfied with Spain's oppressive rule. In 1566, the bourgeois revolution broke out in the Netherlands. After a long war of independence, it finally defeated Spain in 169 and became the first country in the world to establish a capitalist system.

Before the end of the War of Independence, the Netherlands began to colonize and expand. In 162, the East India Company was established. With its support, the Dutch tentacles extended to Asia, encroached on Ceylon, Java and Taiwan Province in China, and completely monopolized the trade in the East. Therefore, the Netherlands was called? Coachman at sea In the early 17th century, it became an international power, and countries such as Britain and France should be wary of it.

But just when the Netherlands was in full swing, its dream of a great country was crushed by a small tulip.

Tulip is a perennial herb of Liliaceae, which is native to Asia Minor. In 1554, an Austrian envoy to the Ottoman Empire happened to see it in the court of Constantinople. It happened that the envoy was a professor of botany. Since there was no such plant in Europe, he was quickly fascinated by this beautiful flower.

Not long after, he took advantage of his return to China to bring tulip seeds back to Europe and successfully cultivated them. Soon tulips were popularized and planted in Spain and became a hot commodity. As the Netherlands was a Spanish territory at that time, the popularity of tulips immediately spread to the upper class in the Netherlands.

Smart Dutch businessmen immediately saw the business opportunities. Dutch businessmen not only hoarded tulip bulbs on a large scale, but also processed and packaged tulips imported from Spain. Because the botany and horticultural cultivation techniques at that time had achieved certain results, the Dutch soon cultivated many tulips with different varieties, bright colors and unique shapes.

At that time, tulips in the Netherlands became the most popular commodity at that time, and nobles flocked to them. Having several tulips in the Netherlands became a symbol of status and status. Influenced by the upper class, the price of tulips has been rising all the way. Before that, people who ate crabs earned a lot of money, and their value has doubled several times, making a lot of money. See tulips like this? Worthy? People from other classes are also crazy about tulips, hoping to get rich overnight.

At this time, people buy tulips not for its ornamental value, but simply for making money.

However, tulips need to bloom periodically, which cannot meet so many social needs, but this is not a problem for Dutch businessmen. Because of the rapid development of capitalism in the Netherlands, finance, banking, insurance and other related industries are also very developed. In 162, the world's first stock exchange was established in Amsterdam.

Seeing that people are so obsessed with tulips, Dutch businessmen speculate on tulip bulbs on the stock exchange? Futures? People don't buy and sell ready-made tulips, but tulip bulbs that haven't blossomed a few years later. Even the invisible goods can't resist the speculative fanaticism of the Dutch. They firmly believe that tulips will not depreciate, but will only rise. Many people will take out all their savings, so the price of tulips is crazy.

in p>1635, the price of a tulip named Childer was fried to 1615 Frohring (the monetary unit of the Netherlands). What is the concept of Frohring in 1615? At that time, the price of four bulls was only 48 Frohring, and 1, pounds of cheese was only 12 Frohring. In 1637, a rarer kind of Switser tulip (said to have only two plants in China, mostly the hype of businessmen) was sold at the price of 4,8 Frohring plus a brand-new carriage and two grey horses.

In just a few years, the overall price of tulips has increased by 59%. At this time, the price of tulips has far exceeded its due value, forming a huge speculative bubble, which can't stand any trouble.