Main content

Tulipmania Mythology

What is the truth behind the 17th Century Dutch craze for tulips and the crash that followed it?

The story goes that Amsterdam in the 1630s was gripped by a mania for tulip flowers. But then there was a crash in the market. People ended up bankrupt and threw themselves into canals. This story is still being trotted out when people talk about financial markets lately as a comparison to buying and selling bitcoin. But how much of what we know of the tulip craze is fact, and how much is myth? We speak to Anne Goldgar at Kings College London who explains all.

(Photo: Tulips, Credit: Shutterstock)

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Tue 15 May 2018 01:50GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 May 2018 18:50GMT
  • Mon 14 May 2018 12:50GMT
  • Tue 15 May 2018 01:50GMT

Download this programme

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.