The Hanseatic League

In the 1100’s, European cities are growing. In addition, many new ones are being built. The people in the different cities need to buy and sell goods and merchants need to travel between the cities. Since there are not many good roads between the different cities, the best way to travel is by boat. Robbers and pirates know this as well.

They lurk at sea to get hold of precious trade cargo that is being transported. To try and stop theft and help trade, some north German merchants get together and form a group. It is called the Hanseatic league. The Hanseatic League works almost like a company, with managers who supervise their staff. The staff are responsible for planning and coordinating trade, and for making the routes between their cities safe.

Some of the first important cities in the Hanseatic League are Lübeck, Wismar and Rostock. The Hanseatic League is so successful directing trade that soon more cities want to join. The more the League grows, the more people they can hire to protect their trade routes. The League keeps growing until it gains control of almost all trade. Everyone who trades in areas controlled by the Hanseatic League must pay fees to the League.

As the League becomes a leader in trade, it also becomes involved in making important political decisions. The League even builds an army and buys warships to help protect merchants, ships and the cities where they have their offices. In the 1300’s, countries outside Germany join the Hanseatic League. Now 70 cities in the Baltic Sea are ruled by the League. They organize and build ports.

The League has offices in London, England, Novgorod, Russia and Bruges, Belgium. The head office remains in Lübeck, Germany. Staff from Hanseatic offices across Europe come to the head office and discuss Hansan's activities and policies. These meetings are called the Hanseatic Day. Decisions made on Hanseatic Day affect both trade and politics throughout Europe.

With the spread of the Hanseatic League German merchants and artisans move to places around the entire Baltic Sea. In many cities it is German merchants who organise the entire trading system, who are allowed to be traders and who are allowed to manufacture products and goods. German becomes an important language throughout northern Europe. At the end of the 1400s, several European countries feel that the Hanseatic League has gained too much influence over trade. The Hanseatic League is having a hard time to adapt to the cities' need for independence.

In 1494, the Grand Duke of Moscow closes down one of the most important offices of the Hanseatic League in the city of Novgorod. After that, several more countries close offices. The Hanseatic League´s influence and power diminishes. The last Hanseatic Day is 1669 and only nine cities participate. In the 1670s, the Hanseatic League and their trade union are gone, but the Hanseatic League has left its mark on Europe.

It has shaped how European countries trade and how Europe's ports and port cities are built. And it has caused the German language to spread throughout northern Europe. Even today, many languages ​​ use German loanwords.