There are very few examples in world history when voluntary unions existed for a long time. As soon as the balance in the interests of the participants was upset, discontent, squabbles and, as a consequence, the collapse of the association immediately began. Those rare examples when this did not happen, and the union existed successfully for a long time, should be a role model and an incentive to learn to maintain a balance of interests. The Hanseatic League, a union of cities in northern Europe, could become such a standard. It existed and developed for approximately four centuries against the backdrop of wars, devastation, division of states and other ordeals.
Where did he come from?
No one will now remember the history of the origin of its name, but it is clear that it arose thanks to a certain association with common goals.
The union did not arise overnight; it was facilitated by long decades of uncoordinated work that did not bring the desired results. This is how thoughts arose about the need for unity for the common good. The Hanseatic League became the first trade and economic association. Merchant units did not have enough power to create favorable and unsafe conditions for trade. Robberies and thefts beyond the defensive border were common at that time, and merchants faced enormous difficulties.
Merchants took particular risks in other towns, since each place had its own rules, sometimes very strict ones. Violation of the rules could result in large losses. There was also competition; no one wanted to give up their positions and lose profits.
The sales problem was becoming increasingly large, and the merchants had no choice but to conclude peace agreements. Although they were temporary, when going to another city, the merchant did not feel in such danger.
External factors also made their own adjustments. Pirates posed a huge danger, because it was almost impossible to cope with them alone.
The rulers of the cities came to the decision that they needed to jointly protect the seas from invaders and divide the costs of attacks in equal shares. The first agreement on the protection of territories was signed by Lübeck and Cologne in 1241. After 15 years, Rostock and Lüneburg joined the union.
After a couple of decades, Lübeck was already strong enough and spoke openly about his demands. Hansa was able to open a sales office in London. This was one of the first steps towards the enormous growth of the union. Now the Hanseatic League will not only control the entire trade sphere, setting its own rules, but also have influence in the political field. Many cities could not withstand the pressure of unification and simply gave up.
Merchants' Union
Now the merchants could enjoy power. Another confirmation of their power was the signing of an agreement in 1299 that from now on the sailing ship of a merchant who was not a member of the Hansa would not be serviced. This forced even opponents of the union to join the union.
In 1367 the number of participants was already about eighty. All offices Hanseatic League were strengthened general rules who in a foreign land defended themselves from local authorities. Own possessions were the main goal for unification and were jealously guarded. All actions of competitors were carefully monitored, and measures were taken immediately.
The loss of Hansa influence was provoked by the state of fragmentation in which Germany was located. At first this played a positive role for the possibility of unification, but with the development of the Moscow state, and then England, it came to the detriment of the Hanseatic League. The lag of north-eastern Europe also led to disruption of the functioning of the union.
Despite all the shortcomings, the Hanseatic League is still remembered, and many monuments have been preserved about it that will forever remain in world history.
Using the Internet, prepare a report on the Hanseatic League. Think about what international organizations today solve the problems that faced the Hanseatic League during its existence.
Answer
Hanseatic League, Hanseatic League, also Hanseatic League (German Deutsche Hanse or Düdesche Hanse, Old German Hansa - literally “group”, “union”, lat. Hansa Teutonica) - a political and economic union that united almost 300 trade cities of northwestern Europe from the mid-12th to the mid-17th centuries. The date of the Hansa cannot be precisely determined because it is not based on a specific document. The Hanseatic League developed gradually as trade expanded along the shores of the Baltic and North Seas.
The reason for the formation of the Hanseatic League was the growth of the population of the territories north of the Elbe as a result of migration, the emergence of new cities and independent communes and, as a result, an increase in the need for goods and an increase in trade. The Hansa began to form in the 12th century as a union of merchants, then as a union of merchant guilds, and by the end of the 13th century as a union of cities. The Hanseatic League included cities that had autonomous city government (“city council”, town hall) and their own laws.
To develop general rules and laws of the Hanseatic League, representatives of cities regularly met at congresses in Lübeck. Hanseatic merchants and companies enjoyed certain rights and privileges.
In non-Hansean cities there were representative offices of the Hansa - offices. Such foreign offices of the Hansa were located in Bergen, London and Bruges. At the easternmost end of the Hansa trading system, an office was founded in Novgorod (Peterhof), where European goods were sold (wine, textiles) and hemp, wax, honey, wood, hides and furs were purchased.
Nowadays, the tasks that faced the Hanseatic League during its existence are solved by international organizations: the UN, various economic unions(SCO, OPEC, BRIC, etc.)
Acquisition of land ownership outside the city, etc.The purpose of this work is to talk about the features of the era in which merchant communities developed, to highlight the history of the emergence of the Hanseatic Trade Union as a special phenomenon in life Medieval Europe. Having formed in the 12th century as a merchant union, at the end of the 13th century the Hansa was already a union of cities. This union for a long time dominated trade in the Baltic and North Seas.
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Introduction
Features of European trade in the 11th century XIII centuries
The emergence and development of the Hanseatic Trade League
Cities that were members of the Hanseatic Trade League or had Hanseatic representation
Relations between the Hanseatic Trade Union and Novgorod
New Hansa
Conclusion
List of sources and literature used
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this work is to talk about the features of the era in which merchant communities developed, to highlight the history of the emergence of the Hanseatic Trade Union as a special phenomenon in the life of Medieval Europe. Having formed in the 12th century as a merchant union, at the end of the 13th century the Hansa was already a union of cities.This union dominated trade in the Baltic and North Seas for a long time.
We face the following tasks:
- Characterize the features of European trade in the 11th-13th centuries
- Talk about the emergence and development of the Hanseatic Trade Union
- Indicate the cities that were members of the Hanseatic Trade League or had Hanseatic representation
- Describe the relations between the Hanseatic Trade Union and Novgorod
- Talk about the so-called “New Hansa” and the prospects for its development.
The relevance of studying this issue is beyond doubt. Some European economists and political scientists suggest that the 21st century will be an era of commercial and industrial consolidation in Europe; in light of this information, it seems necessary to talk about such an impressive experience of Hanseatic traders in the field of international trade. It is also interesting that many German cities still retain the title “Hanseatic” in their names.
To write the work, various sources were used, including educational literature and historical publications on the topic, articles, as well as Internet resources.
The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that it contains comprehensive information on the topic, gives us an idea of the features of trade in the Middle Ages and introduces us to the history of the Hanseatic Trade League.
FEATURES OF EUROPEAN TRADE
IN THE XI-XIII CENTURIES
First, it should be noted that since the 11th century, the cities of medieval Europe have been attempting to free themselves from seigneurial power.
Some used weapons and organized an uprising, others tried to pay off the lord.
One way or another, during this movement for independence, unique city-states, city-communes were formed, power in which passed into the hands of the City Council.
The political importance of such cities is increasing. In addition, in the XII-XIII centuries, a new class began to form - the burghers, which had personal freedom, the right to property and participation in solving urban issues.
However, despite a number of privileges, city residents strictly obeyed the City Council, life inside the city was built on a corporate basis and this applied to everyone: artisans, merchants, etc.
It would be fair to note that starting from the 12th century, a successful merchant is already a traveling merchant; he spends less and less time in his hometown. His presence is required by business in other cities, the purchase of new goods, and fairs. And, although the merchant of that era is good with a sword, he never sets out on the road alone, without his people. Many difficulties awaited him: roads were either missing or in terrible condition, bridges were destroyed. River and sea travel also could not be called safe: running aground, breaking on shore stones or rocks - there were many opportunities to lose cargo or even die. In addition, both land and waterways were full of people wishing to profit from merchant goods and money.
And in this case, merchants had to be very inventive in order to avoid danger. As has already been said, the merchants took with them detachments of armed servants, but this measure sometimes played a cruel joke on them: a huge caravan inspired the idea that they were carrying very expensive goods and attracted extra interest to it from both simple highway robbers and the lord whose lands this caravan was supposed to cross. The lord provided the merchant with his convoy for a certain fee, which ensured security along the entire route; if the merchant refused these services, the lord simply robbed him.
The matter was no less complicated by the peculiarities of European law of the era in question. According to the laws of that time, any goods that touched the possessions of the lord automatically became his property, for example, objects brought ashore after a shipwreck belonged to the owner of this shore, as, in fact, a ship that ran aground, goods that fell out of a cart due to endless shaking on the roads also became the property of the local lord.
The endless customs duties also caused no less trouble.
Thus, we see that the merchants were in dire need of help, some privileges, which they could only obtain in the cities that had become independent, which began to pursue their own trade policy.
Strangers were treated with suspicion, assuming that a merchant from another city certainly wanted to deceive the locals, while, taking into account the peculiarities of the era, there was no difference between a merchant from another country or simply from a neighboring city, they were equally considered strangers. The city created a system of protective measures, the main purpose of which was to prevent a foreign merchant from profiting where his own, local merchant could profit. Everything was used: a ban on trade in certain places and on certain days, high duties and much more.
A little later, many cities began to enter into mutually beneficial agreements with each other in order to facilitate trade for certain categories of merchants. At the same time, within hometown the merchant was obliged to take into account certain rules, for example, the city dictated the price of the goods, which was reflected in the “fair price” rule. The city did not allow the emergence of large trading companies.
In the 11th-13th centuries, merchants united in guilds. This, on the one hand, helped them during dangerous journeys, on the other hand, it gave them some privileges in trade within the city itself. The guild controlled trade in the city, not allowing outsiders. At the same time, the guild was not just an economic community, it was a kind of brotherhood, whose members helped each other in everyday adversities, however, they punished guild members for violating professional ethics very strictly on behalf of the elected authorities.
Such merchant unions arose everywhere in the Middle Ages.
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
HANSEA TRADE UNION
Hansa (German: Hanse , ancient-high German Hansa, literally “group”, “union”) is a kind of synonym for the concept of guild or workshop, that is, a merchant community.
The Hanseatic Trade Union was formed in the 12th century as a union of merchants, and later took shape as a union of cities.
The Hansa is an association of merchants from different cities, and this is unusual, because previously merchant unions united only merchants of one city, cutting off outsiders. The path to joining the Hansa was also special. So, in the London Hanse, in addition to the mandatory entrance fee, there were two more requirements for the candidate. Firstly, he had to belong to the merchant community of his hometown, and secondly, he should not have been considered an artisan for a year and one day (Craftsmen were not allowed because they were afraid of their competition. Of the so-called free craftsmen, merchants only wanted to make ministers).
The process of forming the Hanseatic Trade Union was quite long. The Hanseatic League was first mentioned in documents in 1358. The London Hanse was formed, which existed until the 15th century, and merchant associations arose on the continent around Cologne and Lubeck; at the end of the 13th century, the unification of both German Hanses took place. The center of this association initially became the territory on the banks of the Thames, called the Steel Yard, which included warehouses, barns, inns, etc. It is interesting that the affairs in the territory of the Steel Yard were run by an elected council, which decided matters according to the customs of the guild, not taking into account English laws.
The Hansa was extensive. So, at first, the Saxon and northern lands recognized the dominant position of Lübeck, the Westphalian and Prussian lands - Cologne, and the inhabitants of Gotland and Livonia - the city of Visby, the capital of the island of Gotland.
The island of Gotland played a significant role in the formation and development of the Hanseatic League, being in an exclusively grazing position in the Baltic Sea, it lay in the path of all ships, which helped the development of trade in the region. So, it was the Gotlandic merchants who would create an office in Veliky Novgorod.
However, it was the city of Lübeck that was considered the “Queen of the Hanse”; goods from the North and Baltic seas were exclusively transshipped here. According to some reports, at least 20 ships left Lübeck for Bergen per year. A significant number!
The final flowering of the so-called “German Hanse” occurred in the 14th century, when it subjugated the entire Northern European direction of trade.
The Hanseatic Trade Union created trading colonies, thus, Hanseatic merchants often enjoyed greater rights in foreign lands than local traders and even more so other foreign merchants.
Why was the Hansa so strong? The answer lies in the state of feudal fragmentation in Germany. The authorities were unable to ensure the safety of trade. Cities entered into alliances, seeing benefits in this cooperation. And it was in the union of cities and trade centers that the strength of the Hanseatic League lay. Military and trade alliances were formed between the member cities of the Hansa. The size of duties, legal protection of merchants, which reached its apogee in the formation of the so-called Lübeck law, debt collection, mutual support in private wars, etc. were negotiated. The Hanseatic Trade Union sought to obtain all sorts of privileges for its merchants. Thus, Cologne merchants were exempted by Henry II from all London duties and traded freely at English fairs.
Formally, the Hansa was in many ways stronger than some European monarchs. However, they resorted to war extremely reluctantly, because this jeopardized their main interest - trade!
However, as often happens, the strength of the Hanse also gave rise to weaknesses. For example, it was stated that the merchant's inheritance should be divided among all his heirs, which prevented the accumulation of capital and its further investment in the business. By limiting the intervention of artisans in trade, the merchants caused increasing discontent. National feeling also grew in many countries where the local merchants were dissatisfied with the strengthening of the Hanseatic monopoly. And the fragmentation of Germany, which at first played into its hands, now aggravated the state of affairs: the absence of a strong political center and its support greatly affected the position of the Hanseatic Trade Union.
Failures one after another haunted the Hanseatic merchants. In 1478, the office in Novgorod was destroyed by Ivan III, who captured the city. The herring catch in the Baltic Sea has decreased. In 1530, a quarter of the German population died from a plague epidemic. In 1598, by order of Elizabeth I, the Steel Yard was destroyed. The city of Bruges was cut off from the sea as the harbor was covered in silt. Thirty Years' War changed the map of Europe. The Netherlands and England actively developed industry, looking for ways to sell it without intermediary services. In connection with the discovery and development of America, trade routes began to shift to the West.
The last all-Hansean congress took place in 1669.
CITIES THAT WERE MEMBERS OF THE HANSA TRADE UNION OR HAD HANSA REPRESENTATIONS
The number of cities that were part of the Hanseatic League was not constant. IN different time This union included about 200 cities. Congresses of the Hanseatic cities periodically took place in Lübeck. The decisions of these congresses were not binding on individual cities, and many did not attend them at all.
Among the members of the Hanse are such famous cities as Amsterdam, Hanover, Cologne, Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Danzig (Gdansk), Konigsberg (Kaliningrad), Memel (Klaipeda), Riga, Pernov (Pärnu), Yuriev (Tartu) , Stockholm, Narva and many other cities.
In addition, many cities had large Hanseatic representative offices on their territory; the richest offices were located in London, Bruges, Bergen, and Novgorod.
RELATIONS OF THE HANSEA TRADE UNION
AND NOVGOROD
Novgorod was one of the main trading partners of the Hansa. Both sides - Novgorod and the Hanseatic League were interested in cooperation.
The writer B. Kiselyov most accurately formulated the idea of cooperation between Novgorod and the Hansa, noting that Peter I cut a window to Europe where in the times of Novgorod the doors were wide open.
At the end of the 13th - beginning of the 14th centuries, Novgorod and Lubeck concluded a number of mutually beneficial trade agreements. It is interesting that at the beginning of the 14th century, the struggle for the exclusive right to trade with Novgorod, along with Lubeck, was led by Visby, which once claimed to be the central force in the emerging union of German cities.
However, concluding an agreement with Novgorod in 1361, the Hanseatic Trade Union emphasized that decisions made in Novgorod would only be valid if they were supported by other cities, namely Lubeck, Visby, Riga, Revel, Dorpat.
The main issues concerning the Novgorod court were decided jointly - by the merchants of Lübeck and the merchants of Visby. There was a very strict charter of the Hanseatic court of St. Peter in Novgorod.
The behavior of merchants, the peculiarities of conducting trade, fines, the procedure for placing merchants inside the courtyard were clearly stipulated, and the duties of the headman of the courtyard were specified. Thus, the headman had to maintain all the privileges and messages of the cities that the Novgorod court received. For the loss of letters, the headman was punished with a fine and members of the community were deprived of their rights.
Interestingly, the highest fine was imposed on Hanseatic merchants if their actions threatened the established Hansa monopoly in trade with Novgorod, thus harming the entire merchant class.
In the second half of the 14th century, relations between the Hanseatic merchants and Novgorod began to deteriorate. Thus, this is not the first time that the Master of the Livonian Order demands that Lübeck cease all contacts with Novgorod, due to its hostile attitude towards Catholicism. And Lübeck agrees, although the merchants do not stop trading, but simply transfer it to the Neva, Vyborg and other lands.
In addition, the reason for the quarrel with the Hanseatic League was also an attack on Novgorod merchants by robbers who transported stolen goods to Lubeck.
Such disputes between Novgorod and the Hansa more than once led to the confiscation of goods and the mutual arrest of merchants.
In addition, it is known that in 1385 in Novgorod, during a fire, the courtyards of Hanseatic merchants were plundered by the Novgorodians, which inevitably led to increased confrontation.
In 1391, Niebuhr's peace was concluded, which regulated relations between Novgorod and the Hansa.
However, conflicts continued into the 15th century. Novgorodians tightened trade rules and criticized the quality of goods.
In 1417, the Hanseatic people declared a trade blockade on Novgorod, and Novgorod, in turn, forbade Novgorodians from visiting Pskov and Polotsk, where German merchants could be met. Soon, however, another truce was concluded.
In 1425 in Once again The German courtyard in Novgorod burned down. The restoration cost the Hansa a lot of money. Fires, it must be said, plagued German merchants in Novgorod throughout the 15th century.
The campaign of Ivan 3 against Novgorod in 1478 also affected the position of the Hanseatic traders.
In 1494, the Hanseatic office in Novgorod was closed.
NEW HANSA
Despite the fact that over time the Hanseatic Trade Union weakened and then completely ceased to exist, its spirit was still able to be reborn.
Many cities still honor the memory of the fact that they were once part of the Hansa and emphasize this in every possible way. Thus, the East German city of Rostock recently regained its ancient name - Hanseatic Rostock. Some German cities still retain the title “Hanseatic” in their official names, for example, Hamburg is fully called: “The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.”
Who knows, perhaps the Baltic, on the shores of which at least fifty million people live, will turn into a special economic region developing mutually beneficial trade for the Baltic states?
CONCLUSION
As a result of working on the abstract, we made some conclusions.
Based on the peculiarities of European trade in the 11th-13th centuries, merchants were forced to unite into unions, which, on the one hand, protected traders and their interests, and on the other, imposed their own rules and conditions of trade on them.
The Hanseatic Trade League is one of the most famous merchant unions, formed as a union of traders, but later became very powerful as a union of cities. For a long time, this union controlled trade in the Baltic and North Seas.
About 200 states were members of the Hanseatic Trade Union at different times. Among them are mainly cities modern Germany and the Baltic states. The city of Lübeck occupied a central place and played a very important role in the development of the entire union.
One of the largest offices of the Hanseatic League was located in Novgorod. Relations between the Hansa and Novgorod were not smooth. And, although both parties were interested in cooperation, nevertheless, in 1494 the office was closed.
Despite the fact that the Hanseatic Trade League officially ceased to exist, many cities revived the memory of it in their names.
We believe that the goals we set at the beginning of the abstract have been achieved and the tasks have been realized.
However, it would be interesting to study this issue a little more time, for example, to highlight the role, place and contribution of individual Hanseatic cities to the development of the Union. Or pay more attention to the prospects for the development of the New Hansa.
Speaking about the fact that trade is the engine of progress, it’s time to ask the question - what kind of progress awaits us?
LIST OF SOURCES AND REFERENCES USED
Literature
- Danilov A.A. Kosulina L.G. Brandt M.Yu. “Russia and the world. Antiquity. Middle Ages. New time": a textbook for educational organizations- M.: Education, 2007.
- Dzhivelegov A.K. “Trade in the West in the Middle Ages” / A.K. Dzhivelegov; ed. edited by N.I. Karev and I.V. Luchitsky.- St. Petersburg: Type. Joint Stock Company "Brockhaus-Efron", 1904
- Rybina E. A. “Novgorod and Hansa” - M.: Handwritten monuments Ancient Rus', 2009 .
Internet resources
The German trade union, which for many centuries controlled most trade transactions with London, Veliky Novgorod, Riga, and also signed trade documents on behalf of the Roman merchant empire with special conditions for each German city- as you may have guessed, we will talk about the Hanseatic League, the history of which is outlined in the article.
Brief historical background
There are not many examples in the history of mankind that demonstrate voluntary and mutually beneficial alliances concluded between countries or corporations. But it should be noted that many of them were based on human self-interest and greed. Consequently, such alliances were short-lived. Any violation of agreements or interests always led to collapse, but the history of the Hanseatic League is not like all the others.
This union is a community of cities that represented the most important force in Northern Europe and equal partners of sovereign countries, but it should be noted that the interests settlements, which were part of the Hansa, were too different. And not in all cases economic cooperation became military or political. The importance of the Hanseatic League cannot be overestimated, since it was this phenomenon in the world economy that laid the foundations for international trade.
How did the trade union come about?
Let's move on to studying the issue of the emergence and flourishing of a trade association. The creation of the Hanseatic League dates back to 1267. This was a response of European merchants to the fragmentation of European states in the Middle Ages. This political phenomenon was very risky for business. Robbers and pirates operated along trade routes, and princes, churches and appanage rulers imposed high taxes on all goods that were saved and brought to trade counters. Everyone wanted to profit from the merchant. Consequently, statutory robbery flourished. Absurd trade rules allowed fines to be imposed for improper pot depth or fabric color. But it is worth noting that Germany, using maritime trade routes, achieved certain successes in development at the beginning of the 11th century. The King of Saxony provided German traders with good advantages in London.
In 1143, the city of Lübeck was founded - the heart of the Hanseatic League in the future. Soon the sovereign ceded Lubeck, which became an imperial city. His power was recognized by all the provinces of Northern Germany. A little later, the Lübeck merchant union acquired trading privileges in many countries.
In 1158, the imperial city quickly flourished as it reached the Baltic Sea with trade, and then a German trading company was founded on the island of Gotland. Gotland had a favorable location at sea. Thus, ships entered its ports so that the crews could rest and the ship could be put in order.
100 years later, in 1241, the trade alliances of Lübeck and Hamburg made a deal to protect trade routes between the Baltic and North Seas. Thus, in 1256, the first trading group of coastal cities was formed.
Cities of the Hanseatic League
In 1267, a single union of cities that were part of the Hansa was formed:
- Lübeck;
- Hamburg;
- Bremen;
- Cologne;
- Gdansk;
- Riga;
- Luneburg;
- Wismar;
- Rostock and others.
It is known that in the year the Hanseatic League was founded, it included up to 70 cities. The participants of the union decided that all representative affairs would be conducted by Lübeck, since its senators and burgomasters were considered more capable of managing trade affairs. In addition, it was this city that took on its balance the costs of protecting the ships.
Advantages and disadvantages
The leaders of the Hanseatic League very skillfully used positive circumstances to take control of trade affairs in the North and Baltic Seas. They skillfully made it a monopoly. Thus, they had the opportunity to set the price of goods at their own discretion, and they also sought to gain influence in countries where there was interest for them, as well as various privileges. For example, the right to freely organize colonies and trade; the right to purchase houses and courtyards with representation of jurisdiction.
There were cases when experienced, politically talented and prudent leaders of the union skillfully took advantage of the weaknesses and difficult situation of neighboring countries. They indirectly or directly put the state in a dependent position in order to achieve the desired results.
Expansion of the Union. Three main blocks
Despite all the manipulations carried out by the burgomasters and senators, the composition of the Hanseatic League was steadily expanding. Now it began to include other cities:
- Amsterdam;
- Berlin;
- Hamburg;
- Frankfurt;
- Bremen;
- Cologne;
- Hanover;
- Koenigsberg;
- Danzig;
- Memel;
- Yuryev;
- Narva;
- Stockholm;
- Volen;
- Pomorie and other cities.
The union has become big. The newly annexed cities had to be divided into groups. Now all the cities that were part of the Hansa were conditionally divided into three districts:
- Eastern: lands of Lübeck, Hamburg, Stettin, etc.
- Western: territories of Cologne, Dortmund, Groningen.
- Baltic provinces.
Expulsion from the Union
Another effective technique to keep trading partners in the alliance. The thing is that it was extremely difficult to keep coastal cities, as well as various cities scattered from the Gulf of Finland to Germany, in a single union. After all, the interests of the partners were very different, and only a common interest could serve as the connecting element. The only way to keep a partner was to exclude him. This entailed a ban on the remaining members of the union to have any dealings with the exiled city, which inevitably led to the termination of various relations with it.
However, there was no authority in the union that would monitor the implementation of these instructions. Various claims and complaints were brought only during congresses of allied cities, which met from time to time. Representatives from every city whose interests desired it came to these conventions. With port cities, the method of exclusion was very effective. For example, in 1355, the German city of Bremen announced its desire for isolation. As a result, he left the union with huge losses, and three years later expressed a desire to re-enter it.
Additional Hansa ideas
The founders of the union responded flexibly to the challenges of the time. They very quickly and actively expanded their influence. And several centuries after its founding, it included almost two hundred cities. The development of the Hansa was facilitated by a unified monetary system, equality of native languages, as well as equal rights for residents of the cities of this union.
It is noteworthy that the Hansians spread ideas about healthy way life. They actively implemented the business etiquette they represented. Clubs were opened where merchants exchanged experience and business ideas, and also disseminated various technologies for the production of products and goods. Schools for novice artisans, which opened on the territory of the Hanseatic League, became popular. It is believed that this was an innovation for Medieval Europe. Many researchers note that the Hansa formed the civilized image of modern Europe, which we are seeing now.
Trade relations with Russia
This type of relationship began in the 14th century. The Hanseatic League and its ties with Russia benefited everyone. Furs and wax, leather, silk, flax, and squirrel skins were exported from Russian lands, and Russian merchants purchased mainly salt and fabrics. Most often they bought linen, satin, cloth and velvet.
Hanseatic offices were located in two Russian cities - Novgorod and Pskov. Overseas merchants were very interested in wax. The thing is that Europeans did not know how to produce it in the required quantity and quality. It was also customary among Catholics to sculpt from this material the part of the body that is affected by the disease. Trade in weapons and non-ferrous metals has always been considered a stumbling block in trade relations. It was profitable for the Hanseatic League to sell weapons to Russian lands, and the Livonian Order feared the growth of the power of the Slavs. As a result, he interfered with this process. But, as you guessed, commercial interests most often prevailed over Levon’s interests. For example, a trade transaction was witnessed when in 1396 merchants from Revel imported weapons in fish barrels to Pskov and Novgorod.
Conclusion
The time certainly came when the Hanseatic League began to lose its dominance over the cities of Europe. It started in the 16th century. Russia and Spain left the union. The Hansa repeatedly tried to establish relations with these states, but all attempts were in vain, and the war, which lasted for 30 years, ruined the remnants of German power at sea. The collapse of a union is a long process that requires separate consideration.
IN modern history humanity there is a New Hanseatic League called the European Union. The experience of the Hanseatic League remained unclaimed for a long time, but the Baltic region today is developing very dynamically and is valued because these lands have everything that is necessary for mutually beneficial relations between the European Union and Russia. Experts and economists believe that the New Hanseatic League contributes to the development of Russia's relations with the Baltic countries.