10. The French Mississippi Bubble: Financial Folly
In the early 1700s, France’s ambitions in Louisiana sparked the infamous Mississippi Bubble. Investors across Europe poured fortunes into John Law’s Company of the West, lured by promises of colonial riches. When the speculation burst, the scheme collapsed spectacularly, leaving countless investors bankrupt and shaking confidence in French colonial projects. This episode stands as a cautionary tale of financial mania and colonial overreach. Further reading: Investopedia.
