THE CULTIVATED TULIP
The Cultural History of a Magical Flower
A Sneak Peak…
COURSE DESCRIPTION
For such a seemingly simple flower, the tulip has a long, mesmerizing, and complex history, having found its way into gardens over 1,000 years ago. Most famously, this elegant flower sparked the world’s first financial bubble—a speculative frenzy in 17th-century Holland that saw tulips trading for the price of a luxurious Amsterdam canal house.
This course is meticulously crafted to provide a captivating and comprehensive look at the tulip’s journey from its native regions in Central Asia to its spread across Persia, the Ottoman Empire, and Europe.—perfect for anyone passionate about history, art history, or gardening!
Objectives:
Understand the botanical origins and spread of the tulip, including the role of global trade networks, plus that of religion and major intellectual movements such as the Renaissance and the Enlightenment.
Study depictions of tulips in various art forms, including paintings, literature, and poetry,
Explore the symbolic meanings of tulips in different cultures and historical periods.
Analyze the causes and consequences of Tulipmania in social-economic and cultural terms.
Examine the relative influence between tulips and gardening, garden design, botanical studies, and horticulture practices (including advancements in tulip breeding, the environmental impact of commercial bulb production, and tulip conservation), assessing how each shaped and was shaped by the other.
What our customers are saying…
-
![]()
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
Laurie Payton
-
![]()
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
Jamie Kokot
-
![]()
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
Lindsey Beumer
-
![]()
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business.”
Keith Finley
COURSE DETAILS
8 Modules (each approximately 30-60 minutes in length)
Total Duration:
Unlimited, Lifetime Access
Module Quizzes with Comprehensive Explanations
Bonus Materials (downloadables)
Curated Tulip Itineraries
Tulip Timeline
Biographical Directory
Glossary
Annotated List of Notable Tulips
This course is perfect for anyone passionate about history, art history, or gardening!
For $128, you will have unlimited, lifetime access to The Cultivated Tulip.
Learn at your own pace and convenience.
Wild Origins & Essential Plant Science
In this lesson, you will discover the origins of tulips, beginning in the wilds of Central Asia, specifically in regions such as modern-day Kazakhstan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Additionally, we’ll look at basic plant science concepts related to tulips, including their growth cycles, the conditions in which tulips thrive, and the process of bulb development. By understanding the origins and biology of tulips, you will gain insights into the fascinating journey of this flower, from its wild beginnings to its cultivated beauty.
Module 1: Tulip Roots
Module 2: A Flower of the East
The Early Cultivation and Cultural Significance of the Tulip
The cultivation and cultural appreciation of tulips began over 1,000 years ago in Persia, where the flower symbolized divine beauty in art and poetry. From there, tulips flourished in the Ottoman Empire, rising to royal significance under Suleyman the Magnificent, who used the flower as a symbol of imperial power, adorning ceramics, textiles, and mosques. Later, during Sultan Ahmed III’s reign, tulips became such a symbol of luxury and indulgence that the period became known as the Lâle Devri—the Tulip Age.
The Tulip’s Introduction to Northern Europe
Europeans first encountered tulips as travelers, merchants, and diplomats visiting Turkey and the imperial court of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Fueled by Renaissance thinking and the expansion of trade routes and colonial ventures, this was an era of botanical discovery, and the tulip exemplified the excitement around plants as both scientific subjects and symbols of wealth, status, and exotic allure. Its journey from the Ottoman Empire through this period mirrored the broader Renaissance values of curiosity, beauty, and the pursuit of knowledge, ultimately shaping the tulip’s iconic status in Europe.
Module 3: A Jewel of a Flower
Module 4: A Market in Bloom
The Dutch & Tulipmania
This lesson delves into Tulipmania, the 17th-century Dutch frenzy where tulip prices soared, with some bulbs valued as high as an Amsterdam canal house. The most prized were the streaked "broken" tulips, their unique patterns caused by a virus that ultimately weakened the plants. Though the market crashed in 1637, leading to stories of financial ruin, new research paints a more nuanced picture. We’ll explore the facts and debunk the myths surrounding this iconic event in Dutch history.
The Tulip Beyond Dutch Borders
Tulip fascination spread beyond the Netherlands, with France experiencing its own "mini" tulip mania, and tulips playing a role in both sides of the English Civil War. In colonial America, Thomas Jefferson cultivated tulips at Monticello with bulbs from Holland.
Module 5: In Full Bloom
Module 6: The Flowering of the Still Life
Flower Paintings in the 17th & 18th Centuries
In this lesson, we’ll examine the gorgeous still-life paintings that provided an iconic backdrop to the Dutch Golden Age. 17th-century artists masterfully captured the textures and details of everyday objects, from fruit and glassware to intricate flowers. These paintings often conveyed themes of wealth, abundance, and the fleeting nature of life through their precise arrangements.
Tulips, prized for their vibrant colors and rarity, often appeared in these works as a reflection of the cultural fascination with luxury and exoticism. Flower painters such as Ambrosius Bosschaert, Rachel Ruysch, and Jan Davidsz de Heem became renowned for their skill in creating compositions that balanced realism with deeper symbolic meanings.
The English Florists’ Tulip
Tulips crossed the English Channel in the mid-1500s and soon became firmly established in English gardens, embraced by the wealthy as symbols of prestige and flourishing on the grounds of castles and grand estates. Then, in the 19th century, the tulip reinvented itself yet again! Tulip breeding became a working-class hobby with was also taken up, as a hobby, by working-class men who were focused on growing flowers to the highest possible standard and competing against one another at flower shows.
Module 7: A Hobby Flower
Module 8: A Global Sensation
The Mass Market Tulip
By the 20th century, the tulip, throughout its long and charismatic history, had already reinvented itself many times. For its final act, we turn again to the clever Dutch, who recreated the tulip as a flower for bedding out en masse and developed a highly lucrative trade in tulips as cut flowers. Hybridization has expanded the variety of tulips available (almost 3,000!), while the Netherlands has solidified its position as the global leader in tulip cultivation and export. From its humble origins in Central Asia, the tulip is now a staple of modern horticulture, celebrated in gardens, floral arrangements, and festivals worldwide.
BONUS MATERIALS
BUCKET LIST
Explore a curated list of must-see sites and events dedicated to celebrating the tulip that will surely inspire your next travel adventure.
GLOSSARY
Enhance your understanding of the course with this comprehensive glossary of key terms, places, historical periods, and events related to the history of the tulip.
TIMELINE
Track the course with this beautifully designed timeline that vividly chronicles the captivating history of the tulip.
VIP DIRECTORY
Discover the influential figures who shaped the fascinating history of the tulip in this essential “who’s who” guide.
MODULE QUIZZES
Test your knowledge of the material covered in each module with a digital series of questions.
NOTABLE TULIPS
Uncover key tulips highlighted in the course, each playing a significant role in the rich history of tulip cultivation and culture.
“The tulip is a flower that draws some of the most exquisite lines in nature and then, in spasms of extravagance, blithely oversteps them.”
— Michael Pollan, The Botany of Desire
GIFT CARDS
Share the beauty of the tulip and its charming history with your friends and loved ones! “The Cultivated Tulip” is a unique and thoughtful gift that will surely inspire the history buffs, art lovers, and garden enthusiasts in your life.
Gift the garden of knowledge.
MEET YOUR HOST
Hi, I’m Heather, a historian specializing in medieval and early modern European history with a master’s from Emory. My courses offer rich insights without a classroom feel, combining unique topics with engaging, behind-the-scenes storytelling. You'll gain the tools to enrich your travels, deepen your gardening expertise, and uncover stories behind familiar landscapes and artifacts—becoming your own guide to history and culture.
My love for the tulip began during my time as an expat in Amsterdam. This familiar flower takes on a new personality in Holland—exotic and essential to Dutch identity, tradition, and culture. Learning it wasn’t native to Holland sparked a vibrant journey into its fascinating past.
Course FAQs
-
No. Our Courses and Masterclasses are carefully curated and designed for everyone, whether you are new to the subject or have previous experience. All are welcome!
-
allowing you create a login for your account. Once this is done, you will be directed to the Login page and, after entering your login info, you will be connected to your personal and private platform where you can access your purchases.
If you already have an account, you will receive a confirmation email with a link directing you to the Login page, through which you can access your purchases.
You can sign into your account any time via the Login tab in the Menu bar at https://www.travelandculturesalon.com/.
-
Absolutely! The moment you purchase a Course, it’s instantly added to your account. You’ll have unlimited, lifetime access, so whether you prefer to take it slow or binge-watch the whole thing in one go, it’s totally up to you. And guess what? You can replay your Courses as often as you wish!
-
Yes, the course is mobile-friendly and can be accessed on any device, including smartphones and tablets.
-
Yes, there are optional quizzes to test your knowledge, but no formal assignments or exams. This is a fun, no pressure course!
-
Absolutely! Our Courses and Masterclasses make fantastic gifts for friends and loved ones. Just select "Gift Vouchers" from the menu at the top of the page, choose the Course or Masterclass you'd like to give and follow the easy steps.
-
Since our Courses and Masterclasses are instantly accessible digital products, we are unable to offer refunds.
-
Please email hello@travelandculturesalon.com with any questions. We're happy to help!
“Art and nature shall always be wrestling / until they mutually conquer each other / so that the victory is on the same stroke and line: that which is conquered, conquers at the same time.”
— Maria Sibylla Merian, 1675
