Hanseatic League

Main trading route of the Hanseatic League

The Hanseatic League (German: die Hanse, Dutch: de Hanze, Estonian: hansa, Latvian: Hanza Polish: Hanza, Swedish: Hansan) was an alliance of trading guilds. These guilds established and maintained a trade monopoly over the Baltic Sea and most of Northern Europe. This monopoly lasted for a time in the later Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, between the 13th and 17th centuries.

Many cities were part of it.

Cities that are still called Hansestadt

The following cities were part of the Hanse. They carry the word Hansestadt (Hanseatic City) as part of their official city name:

Ubena von Bremen, a replica of the Bremen cog
Hanseatic Seal of Elbing (now Elbląg)
The Holstentor of Lübeck, built in 1464, is the only historic gate of the city still standing today.
The Hanseatic League left a significant cultural and architectural heritage. It is especially renowned for its Brick Gothic monuments, such as Stralsund's St. Nikolai Church and its City Hall, shown here. The old town of Stralsund, together with Wismar, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Foundation of the alliance between Lübeck and Hamburg in the part about ship law (Van schiprechte) in the Hamburg city right from 1497
Kõpu Lighthouse in Hiiumaa
Stargard Mill Gate, Pomerania, today in Poland
Town Hall of Reval (now Tallinn, Estonia)
Military situation in Denmark (1370) after foreign invasions.