Tulipomania
Ever wonder why the Dutch are always shown with tulips? Well, I did. And while I didn't find a definitive answer, I found something very interesting along the way that I suspect is the reason. Tulipomania or Tulip mania as it has also been called, is an interesting point in the history of the Dutch. According to Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay, "In 1634, the rage among the Dutch to possess them was so great that the ordinary industry of the country was neglected, and the population, even to its lowest dregs, embarked in the tulip trade." To give an…