Explanations 
Flashcards 
StudySmarter AI 
Notes 
Study Plans 
Study Sets 
Exams 
Magazine 
Find a job 
Mobile App 
Jump to a key chapter
Hanseatic League Definition
The Hanseatic League was a trading association or guild, that was founded in 1356 and primarily centered in Northern Germany, but spread all the way across to England and into Scandinavia.
The majority of land and towns were under the control of feudal lords during the Medieval Period. However, the practice of feudalism began to fade as mercantilism became the main source of income. This made it an opportune time for cities to focus on their trade.
The League slowly began to form over the course of the 13th century, beginning with a loose alliance between cities that agreed that they would come to each other's aid if they were ever attacked. It was not until the 1350s that the cities decided that having a structure in place, with clear rules and authority, would be beneficial. This led to the official founding of the Hanseatic League in 1356.
The Hanseatic League became an important player in the trading of raw materials such as wax, timber, and pitch. They also heavily traded foods such as grains and fish. In return, their trading brought in goods like textiles and spices from all over the world to the population in Northern Germany. The Hanseatic League was foremost a trading company, but like many other trading companies, they also traded cultures with the regions that traded with.
Guild
a group of towns or people that come together in an alliance for a certain purpose.
Mercantilism
the focus on trade as the primary source of wealth.
Hanseatic League Map
The Hanseatic League was made up of cities in Northern Europe, primarily Germany, and in Southern Scandinavia. The geographical location of the Hansa cities was no coincidence; the cities belonging to the Hanseatic League, also called Hansa cities, were all located strategically close to a port from which their ships could easily reach.
Fig. 1 A map highlighting locations of the Hanseatic League.
The majority of the Hansa cities bordered either the Baltic or the North Sea, which was the main route that the traders would use to travel. Along these seas were port cities surrounded by land that were rich in resources in high demand across the trading towns.
Hanseatic League Cities
The Hanseatic League boasted close to 200 member cities at its peak. The major cities in the Hanseatic League were Lübeck, Bergen, London, and Novgorod. However, membership of the Hanseatic League extended to cities such as London.
Lübeck
Perhaps the most important and influential city related to the Hanseatic League was Lübeck, a Free Imperial City and one of the first German towns located along the Baltic sea to emerge. Lübeck later became the Queen City of the Hanseatic League. In the mid-13th century, Lübeck attempted to centralize power from the city, creating treaties that would band the Hanseatic cities more closely together through military and economic ties.
Fig 2. A view of modern-day Lübeck.
German settlers who were emboldened by their success in Lübeck pushed into these cities along the Black Sea. Rostock, Wismar, and Riga were founded as Hanseatic towns. The cities themselves were free and held their own separate governments and societies, but they were bound to certain rules and expectations of the League.
Bremen and Hamburg
Other Free Imperial Cities included Bremen and Hamburg. As Free Imperial Cities, they possessed more autonomy and could join the Hanseatic League. However, even if cities were not Free Imperial Cities, they were not excluded from joining the League. Cities still under the control of a ruler could set up a kontor.
Free Imperial City
a city that is located within a larger empire but has been granted autonomy and powers that other cities do not have
Kontor
a portion of a city, usually in the form of a trading outpost or building, that was associated with the Hanseatic League
Setting up a kontor meant that a city could not officially join the League as they were under the rule of a monarch. Nonetheless, these cities could have a trading outpost that was associated with the League, giving them access to the perks of being a Hansa city.
The Hanseatic Cities after the Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic Cities remained relevant well into the 18th and 19th century and embraced trading opportunities across the Atlantic. At one point, Bremen became one of the important port cities in which goods departed to and arrived from the United States.
The Imperial Cities of Lübeck and Hamburg, and the entire Hanseatic League, were also involved with US trade.
Fig 3. The seal of the Hanseatic League.1
Hanseatic Day is still celebrated in the ancient cities that were a part of the Hansa.
Forces of the Hanseatic League
Even before the Hanseatic League was officially founded, in 1262 three cities signed an agreement to fight piracy that threatened their trade along the Baltic Sea. In many ways, this anticipated the future agreement of the League, which outlined the purpose of the League as not only a trading and economic alliance but also a military one.
While the members of the Hanseatic League could band together to protect their interests, by military force or by economic influence, every member of the League could not be held responsible for the actions of another member. However, it was very likely that an attack on one member of the League would lead the rest of the Hansa cities to come to their aid.
The Hanseatic League met at the Hansetag, a meeting convened to make decisions about trading rules and tasked with consolidating the various needs of different cities.
Fig. 4: A painting depicting the formation of the Hanseatic League.
Hanseatic League significance
The Hanseatic League was an important player in how trade and economic policies developed in Europe during the 14th century.
The League brought trade to many European cities. Its network was a critical way to link cities across the continent. They became the most influential power on the trading culture in Northern Europe during the Renaissance. Some cities, like Hamburg, endure as prominent international trading hubs.
European Trade Cities - Key takeaways
- The Hanseatic League, also referred to as the Hansa, was founded in 1356 and disbanded in 1862.
- The League was a trading alliance between European cities in order to protect their economic interests, as well as make trading between cities easier.
- The Hanseatic League had a large presence in Northern Germany and had member cities in England and Scandinavia. There were about 200 member cities at its peak.
- The members of the Hanseatic League consisted of Free Imperial Cities that joined on their own and kontors.
- The League mostly traded resources such as timber and wax, and in return brought back items such as textiles and spices.
References
- Fig 3 Arms of the Hanseatic League by Gabriel Cibber (c.1670) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arms_of_the_Hanseatic_League_(c.1670).JPG by Kim Traynor https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Kim_Traynor Licensed by CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
- Fig 4 Hanseatic League's formation in Hamburg, Germany https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hanseatic_league.jpg by Unknown Licensed by Public Domain Mark 1.0 https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/
Learn faster with the 0 flashcards about Hanseatic League
Sign up for free to gain access to all our flashcards.
Frequently Asked Questions about Hanseatic League
What was the Hanseatic League?
The Hanseatic League was an association of cities based on their common trading interests.
When was the Hanseatic League?
The Hanseatic League was founded in 1356 and was disbanded in 1862.
What was the purpose of the Hanseatic League?
The purpose of the Hanseatic League was to protect the trading interests of a group of cities.
Why did trade groups like the Hanseatic League form?
Trade groups like the Hanseatic League made it easier to trade with cities, as cities belonging to the League had the privileges that cities not belonging to the League did not.
What countries made up the Hanseatic League?
Cities belonging to the Hanseatic League spanned across Northern Germany, Scandinavia, but their influence spanned even to England and Russia.
About StudySmarter
StudySmarter is a globally recognized educational technology company, offering a holistic learning platform designed for students of all ages and educational levels. Our platform provides learning support for a wide range of subjects, including STEM, Social Sciences, and Languages and also helps students to successfully master various tests and exams worldwide, such as GCSE, A Level, SAT, ACT, Abitur, and more. We offer an extensive library of learning materials, including interactive flashcards, comprehensive textbook solutions, and detailed explanations. The cutting-edge technology and tools we provide help students create their own learning materials. StudySmarter’s content is not only expert-verified but also regularly updated to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Learn more