Prompt Cookbook #3 —History, Culture, and Places

Welcome to the third installment of the PromptDervish Cookbook series! If you’ve already had a taste of Cookbook #1 and Cookbook #2, you’ll know that these guides are your go-to inspiration scrolls. The aim? To ignite that creative spark within you, making your journey with the generative AI’s prompt box more vivid and engaging. Just like our previous editions, this cookbook is designed as a quick-reference list. As you scroll through, you’ll find a assortment of topics, settings, activities, and moods — all aimed at helping you craft compelling prompts for richer, more layered AI-generated art. Don’t worry about the order; feel free to jump around to whatever catches your eye or resonates with your creative vibe.

History, Culture, and Places

American Wild West

• Types: Frontier life, gold rush, outlaws, cattle drives, Native American displacement
• Settings: Saloons, frontier towns, gold mines, open plains, Native American reservations
• Activities: Dueling, prospecting, ranching, trading, gambling
• Mood: Rugged, adventurous, lawless, opportunistic, conflicted
• Additional Details: Six-shooters, cowboy hats, stagecoaches, Wanted posters, tepees
• Examples:

“A bustling saloon in a frontier town, where cowboys and outlaws mingle amidst gambling and duels.”

“A Native American reservation, showcasing the complexities and conflicts of the Wild West era.”

American Revolution

• Types: Colonial revolt, Enlightenment ideals, battles, diplomacy, nation-building
• Settings: Boston Harbor, colonial assemblies, battlefields, Continental Congress
• Activities: Protesting, debating, fighting, spying, drafting declarations
• Mood: Revolutionary, defiant, intellectual, patriotic, hopeful
• Additional Details: Liberty Bell, tricorn hats, muskets, Declaration of Independence, George Washington
• Examples:

“The floor of the Continental Congress, buzzing with debates on independence and drafts of revolutionary documents.”

“The battlefield of Lexington and Concord, where the ‘shot heard round the world’ sparked a new nation.”

American Settlers

• Types: Homesteading, westward expansion, Oregon Trail, land acquisitions, frontier life
• Settings: Log cabins, covered wagons, trading posts, settler communities
• Activities: Farming, building, trading, community organizing, exploring
• Mood: Determined, communal, hopeful, rugged, innovative
• Additional Details: Prairie dresses, coonskin caps, oxen, Manifest Destiny, pioneer tools
• Examples:

“A bustling settler community, where homesteaders work tirelessly to farm, build, and create a sense of community.”

“A family of settlers on the Oregon Trail, showcasing the hopeful yet perilous journey towards a new life.”

Great Depression

Types: Economic collapse, social change, government intervention, mass migration Settings: Breadlines, soup kitchens, Hoovervilles, Wall Street, farms Activities: Job searching, bartering, protesting, New Deal programs Mood: Desolate, desperate, hopeful, resilient Additional Details: Stock market crash, bank closures, Dust Bowl Examples:

“A desperate breadline stretching down the block, a snapshot of economic collapse during the Great Depression.”

“A farm consumed by the Dust Bowl, embodying the desolation and resilience of the era.”

Prohibition Era

Types: Bootlegging, organized crime, speakeasies, temperance movement Settings: Illegal bars, gangster hideouts, courtrooms, police raids Activities: Smuggling, drinking, jazz music, law enforcement Mood: Rebellious, secretive, risky, luxurious Additional Details: Flapper fashion, Tommy guns, jazz bands Examples:

“A secretive speakeasy filled with flapper fashion and jazz music, the epitome of the Prohibition era.”

“A courtroom drama unraveling the legal intricacies and moral complexities of Prohibition.”

California Gold Rush

Types: Gold mining, westward expansion, economic boom, pioneer life Settings: Gold mines, mining camps, San Francisco, Wild West towns Activities: Panning for gold, trading, establishing businesses Mood: Adventurous, optimistic, chaotic, opportunistic Additional Details: Gold nuggets, mining tools, ‘49ers, covered wagons Examples:

“A bustling mining camp teeming with optimistic ‘49ers, eager to strike it rich.”

“The chaotic streets of San Francisco during the Gold Rush, a hub of trading and opportunity.”

Colonial America

Types: Colonization, Native American relations, mercantilism, early democracy Settings: Early settlements, Native American villages, colonial assemblies, harbors Activities: Farming, trading, hunting, legislating Mood: Pioneering, uncertain, collaborative, oppressive Additional Details: Pilgrims, Puritans, Jamestown, tobacco crops Examples:

“A pioneering early settlement, buzzing with farming and trading activities, symbolic of Colonial America.”

“A colonial assembly engaging in early democratic processes, laying the groundwork for a new nation.”

Vikings

• Types: Maritime raids, settlements, exploration, folklore, trade networks
• Settings: Longships, fjords, great halls, rune stones, battlefields
• Activities: Raiding, sailing, trading, storytelling, craftsmanship
• Mood: Adventurous, warlike, mysterious, pragmatic, spiritual
• Additional Details: Viking helmets, shields, longbows, Skaldic poetry, runic inscriptions
• Examples:

“A bustling Viking great hall, filled with warriors feasting, storytelling, and planning maritime raids.”

“A mysterious rune stone situated in a fjord, telling tales of exploration and folklore.”

Ireland

• Types: Folklore, Celtic heritage, religious history, modern culture, conflict and peace
• Settings: Castles, pubs, cliffs, monasteries, countryside
• Activities: Music, dancing, storytelling, brewing, farming
• Mood: Mystical, lively, contemplative, resilient, traditional
• Additional Details: Leprechauns, shamrocks, Celtic knots, Gaelic language
• Examples:

“A lively Irish pub where locals engage in storytelling, dancing, and traditional music.”

“The contemplative ruins of a monastery in Ireland, surrounded by Celtic knots and shamrocks.”

Russia

• Types: Tsarist era, Soviet Union, modern Russia, cultural festivals, orthodox Christianity
• Settings: Palaces, Soviet architecture, Orthodox churches, Siberian wilderness, ballet theaters
• Activities: Ballet, chess, political debate, farming, engineering
• Mood: Grandiose, solemn, revolutionary, spiritual, stoic
• Additional Details: Matryoshka dolls, Fabergé eggs, Cyrillic script, fur hats
• Examples:

“A grandiose palace during the Tsarist era, filled with Fabergé eggs and solemn political debates.”

“A revolutionary Soviet square, buzzing with workers’ protests and grand military parades.”

China

• Types: Dynastic periods, Confucian philosophy, technological innovations, modernization, ancient rituals
• Settings: Great Wall, palaces, rice fields, tea houses, urban skyscrapers
• Activities: Calligraphy, martial arts, traditional medicine, tea ceremonies, dragon dancing
• Mood: Historic, harmonious, bustling, disciplined, spiritual
• Additional Details: Chinese zodiac, terracotta warriors, jade artifacts, Confucian texts
• Examples:

“A bustling tea house in ancient China, where scholars discuss Confucian philosophy over cups of oolong.”

“The disciplined setting of a martial arts dojo, with practitioners honing their skills amidst ancient rituals.”

Japan

• Types: Feudal samurai culture, Edo period, technological advancements, traditional arts, anime culture
• Settings: Dojos, Zen gardens, futuristic cities, temples, sushi bars
• Activities: Swordsmanship, tea ceremonies, sumo wrestling, flower arranging, cosplaying
• Mood: Serene, disciplined, futuristic, mystical, creative
• Additional Details: Cherry blossoms, haikus, kimonos, Geishas, bonsai trees
• Examples:

“A serene Zen garden in Japan, framed by cherry blossoms and bonsai trees, perfect for meditation.”

“A bustling futuristic city in Japan, where technology and traditional arts coexist.”

Korea

• Types: Silla Dynasty, Korean War, K-pop culture, culinary traditions, shamanistic practices
• Settings: Palaces, demilitarized zones, markets, Hanok villages, entertainment studios
• Activities: Taekwondo, cooking, K-drama filming, ancestral rites, fan meetings
• Mood: Respectful, vibrant, tense, familial, innovative
• Additional Details: Hanbok attire, kimchi jars, traditional fans, Korean script
• Examples:

“A vibrant Korean market, where locals buy spices, Hanbok attire, and engage in culinary traditions.”

“A tense atmosphere in the demilitarized zone, contrasting with the vibrant K-pop culture elsewhere.”

Thailand

• Types: Ancient Siam, Buddhist practices, exotic beaches, royal ceremonies, street life
• Settings: Temples, beaches, floating markets, jungles, royal palaces
• Activities: Meditation, diving, cooking, Muay Thai, treasure hunting
• Mood: Relaxing, adventurous, devout, tropical, opulent
• Additional Details: Buddha statues, Thai script, traditional masks, long-tail boats
• Examples:

“A relaxing Thai beach, perfect for diving and treasure hunting amidst ancient Siam artifacts.”

“A devout Buddhist temple in Thailand, where monks and laypeople engage in meditation and rituals.”

India

• Types: Vedic civilization, colonial history, Bollywood, spiritual practices, diverse cuisines
• Settings: Temples, spice markets, yoga ashrams, palaces, film sets
• Activities: Dancing, yoga, cooking, philosophizing, cricket playing
• Mood: Mystical, festive, meditative, dramatic, cultural
• Additional Details: Sarees, turbans, sacred cows, holy rivers, ancient texts
• Examples:

“A festive marketplace in India, buzzing with colorful sarees and fragrant spices.”

“A tranquil yoga ashram, where attendees engage in deep meditation and ancient spiritual practices.”

Morocco

• Types: Arab-Berber culture, historic medinas, nomadic life, Islamic art, bustling souks
• Settings: Desert camps, palaces, medinas, mountain villages, coastal towns
• Activities: Carpet weaving, spice trading, cooking tagines, camel trekking, haggling
• Mood: Exotic, adventurous, historic, sensory, intricate
• Additional Details: Mosaics, mint tea, kaftans, Arabic calligraphy, Berber tents
• Examples:

“An exotic souk in Morocco, filled with vibrant spices, intricate mosaics, and the aroma of mint tea.”

“A historic medina, where Arab-Berber culture thrives in architecture, art, and everyday life.”

Saudi Arabia

• Types: Bedouin culture, modern urbanization, Islamic history, oil wealth, religious pilgrimage
• Settings: Mosques, oil fields, palaces, deserts, shopping malls
• Activities: Praying, trading, oil drilling, camel racing, shopping
• Mood: Sacred, opulent, traditional, arid, expansive
• Additional Details: Kaaba, Arabic script, golden jewelry, falconry, desert tents
• Examples:

“A sacred mosque in Saudi Arabia, where devout Muslims gather for prayer and pilgrimage.”

“An opulent palace, reflecting the nation’s oil wealth, adorned with golden jewelry and intricate designs.”

Kenya

• Types: Maasai culture, wildlife conservation, Swahili coast, colonial history, agricultural traditions
• Settings: Savannas, Maasai villages, beaches, tea plantations, urban centers
• Activities: Safari, tribal dances, snorkeling, tea picking, urban exploring
• Mood: Adventurous, natural, rhythmic, historic, communal
• Additional Details: Beaded necklaces, Swahili script, acacia trees, coral reefs, animal herds
• Examples:

“An adventurous safari in Kenya’s savanna, surrounded by wild animals and iconic acacia trees.”

“A rhythmic Maasai tribal dance, adorned in beaded necklaces, under the open Kenyan sky.”

Native American

• Types: Creation myths, trickster tales, tribal legends, animal spirits, folklore
• Settings: Deserts, mountains, forests, tribal camps, sacred sites
• Activities: Storytelling, hunting, rituals, dances, shamanic practices
• Mood: Sacred, mystical, communal, ancient, natural
• Additional Details: Dream catchers, totem poles, feathered headdresses, tribal drums
• Examples:

“A sacred tribal camp setting where rituals and dances are performed, featuring totem poles and feathered headdresses.”

“An ancient sacred site in a forest, the focus of storytelling involving tribal legends and animal spirits.”

African Folklore

• Types: Anansi stories, oral traditions, mythological heroes, fables, creation myths
• Settings: Villages, savannas, jungles, tribal councils, ancestral lands
• Activities: Storytelling, drumming, ritual dances, ancestor worship, communal gatherings
• Mood: Mystical, communal, vibrant, ancient, oral
• Additional Details: Tribal masks, sacred totems, animal spirits, communal fires
• Examples:

“A vibrant village setting for a storytelling session, complete with tribal masks and sacred totems.”

“An ancient tribal council engaged in ancestor worship, surrounded by animal spirits and communal fires.”

Aboriginal Australians

• Types: Indigenous cultures, ancient traditions, sacred ceremonies, social kinship, survival techniques
• Settings: Outback, coastal areas, rainforests, rock shelters, billabongs
• Activities: Storytelling, dancing, art-making, hunting, gathering
• Mood: Spiritual, communal, ancient, connected, resilient
• Additional Details: Boomerangs, didgeridoos, tribal paints, totems, bush medicine
• Examples:

“A remote rock shelter in the Australian Outback, adorned with ancient art and used for storytelling and sacred ceremonies.”

“A billabong at sunset, where Aboriginal Australians gather for communal hunting and sharing of ancient knowledge.”

Aboriginal Australians & the Dreamtime

I added this second category because the Dreaming is such a great source of images.

• Types: Creation myths, ancestral spirits, sacred landscapes, moral lessons, spiritual journeys
• Settings: Ancestral lands, dreamscapes, mythical realms, sacred sites
• Activities: Dreaming, connecting with ancestors, singing, rituals, spiritual reflection
• Mood: Mystical, transcendent, timeless, ethereal, sacred
• Additional Details: Rainbow Serpent, Dreaming tracks, sky heroes, totemic ancestors, spirit beings
• Examples:

“A sacred Dreamtime landscape, where the Rainbow Serpent shaped the land and sky heroes watch over.”

“A mythical realm within the Dreamtime, where ancestral spirits guide individuals through moral lessons and spiritual journeys.”

Renaissance

• Types: Artistic flourishing, scientific discoveries, cultural rebirth, religious transformations, philosophical debates
• Settings: Palaces, art studios, universities, churches, public forums
• Activities: Painting, inventing, debating, sculpting, composing
• Mood: Intellectual, opulent, transformative, creative, complex
• Additional Details: Classical sculptures, frescoes, period attire, rare manuscripts
• Examples:

“A transformative art studio during the Renaissance, buzzing with painting, sculpting, and philosophical debates.”

“An opulent palace filled with artistic flourishing, from classical sculptures to rare manuscripts.”

Cultural Celebrations

• Types: National holidays, religious ceremonies, rites of passage, seasonal festivals, harvest celebrations
• Settings: Town squares, temples, family homes, open fields, parade routes
• Activities: Dancing, feasting, parades, singing, rituals
• Mood: Joyous, reverential, communal, festive, exuberant
• Additional Details: Decorative costumes, musical instruments, specific foods, religious icons
• Examples:

“A joyous national holiday celebrated in a town square with decorative costumes and specific foods.”

“A reverential religious ceremony taking place in a temple, complete with religious icons and rituals.”

Cultural Festivals

• Types: Art festivals, music festivals, film festivals, food festivals, craft fairs
• Settings: Urban parks, festival grounds, concert halls, streets, galleries
• Activities: Performances, exhibitions, culinary tastings, craft making, film screenings
• Mood: Artistic, eclectic, social, sensory, vibrant
• Additional Details: Booths, stages, banners, art installations, diverse crowds
• Examples:

“An artistic art festival in an urban park, featuring diverse booths and sensory exhibitions.”

“A vibrant music festival on festival grounds with multiple stages and eclectic performances.”

Historical Events

• Types: Revolutionary wars, signing of treaties, technological advancements, social movements, great discoveries
• Settings: Battlefields, palaces, labs, public squares, exploration sites
• Activities: Fighting, negotiating, inventing, protesting, discovering
• Mood: Momentous, pivotal, tense, heroic, dramatic
• Additional Details: Historical figures, period clothing, artifacts, old documents
• Examples:

“A momentous battlefield during a revolutionary war, filled with historical figures and period clothing.”

“A dramatic lab setting capturing a pivotal technological advancement, complete with old documents and artifacts.”

Historical Landmarks

• Types: Pyramids, ancient temples, castles, historical bridges, battle memorials
• Settings: Landscapes, cityscapes, countrysides, isolated islands, busy urban centers
• Activities: Sightseeing, archaeological digs, reenactments, educational tours, conservation
• Mood: Majestic, awe-inspiring, historical, melancholic, informative
• Additional Details: Plaques, ruins, architectural details, period-appropriate attire
• Examples:

“A majestic pyramid setting in a landscape, complemented by archaeological digs and plaques.”

“An awe-inspiring ancient temple located in a busy urban center, featuring architectural details and period-appropriate attire.”

Iconic Cities

• Types: Rome, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Cairo
• Settings: City skylines, historic districts, iconic landmarks, bustling streets, cultural neighborhoods
• Activities: Urban exploration, cultural experiences, fine dining, shopping, sightseeing
• Mood: Cosmopolitan, historical, dynamic, romantic, diverse
• Additional Details: Famous monuments, street vendors, city maps, local fashion
• Examples:

“A cosmopolitan exploration of New York, complete with iconic landmarks and diverse street vendors.”

“A romantic journey through Paris, capturing the historic districts, local fashion, and famous monuments.”

Victorian Era with a Twist

• Types: Steampunk variations, gothic themes, supernatural elements, speculative scenarios, alternative histories
• Settings: Steam-powered cities, haunted mansions, secret societies, clockwork workshops, alternative realities
• Activities: Inventing, sleuthing, adventuring, socializing, spellcasting
• Mood: Mysterious, whimsical, dark, fantastical, innovative
• Additional Details: Gears, corsets, top hats, cogs, magical artifacts
• Examples:
• “A whimsical steam-powered city featuring a clockwork workshop filled with gears and cogs.”

• “A dark haunted mansion in an alternative Victorian reality, teeming with supernatural elements and magical artifacts.”

World Wars

• Types: Battles, espionage, home fronts, peace talks, war journalism
• Settings: Trenches, military bases, home kitchens, international conferences, occupied territories
• Activities: Fighting, spying, rationing, diplomacy, reporting
• Mood: Tense, heroic, tragic, dramatic, complex
• Additional Details: Military uniforms, secret codes, propaganda posters, historical letters
• Examples:

“A tense trench setting during a battle, filled with military uniforms and heroic actions.”

“A dramatic international conference focusing on peace talks, complete with historical letters and complex diplomacy.”

In Conclusion

Congratulations, you’ve scrolled your way to the end of Cookbook 3! I hope this guide has been the creative catalyst you needed to draft your own one-of-a-kind prompts. If it has sparked your imagination and helped you to create more compelling images, then it’s mission accomplished on my end. If you’ve enjoyed this cookbook, please give it a round of claps — the more, the merrier! And if you haven’t already, make sure to follow me for more guides, tips, and inspiration. Happy prompting!

A sacred Dreamtime landscape, where the Rainbow Serpent shaped the land and sky heroes watch over.