The Hansa

The Hansa, or Hanseatic League, was a powerful alliance of merchant cities in Northern Europe, active from the 13th to the 17th centuries. It included towns like Lübeck, Hamburg, and Bruges, promoting trade and protecting economic interests across the Baltic and North Sea regions. Members worked together to establish trading rules, secure shipping routes, and defend against piracy. The Hansa facilitated commerce by standardizing practices and negotiating with local governments, significantly influencing medieval trade and economics in Europe. Its legacy can still be seen in the cultural and economic ties among these regions today.