Tulip Mania, beginning in 1626, was the first recorded financial bubble, occurring in the Dutch Republic. It centered around the frenzied trade of tulip bulbs, introduced to Europe from the Ottoman Empire. Cultivated as a symbol of wealth among the Dutch elite, rare varieties became highly sought after. Intensified by stories of overnight fortunes, this speculative craze led to rapidly escalating prices before collapsing, serving as a historical lesson in the dangers of speculative markets.