Page 56 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

54  INTRODUCING GERM AN Y THE HIST OR Y OF GERM AN Y  55

The Hanseatic League The Hanseatic Cities

The German Hanseatic League, or Hanse, was only one of In the major Hanseatic cities, the
many guilds of traders or cities that existed in the Middle Ages, most prominent buildings grew
but its important historical role made it one of the best known. up around the Markt (market
square) and along the streets
Established in the 13th century, it reached its peak in the that led to the port. The market
14th century and declined again in the 16th century. Over square would contain the
160 cities, primarily the trading cities of northern Germany, Panoramic view of Lübeck Rathaus (town hall), with its
but also including Baltic ports as far afield as Visby, Riga and The vast port town of Lübeck was the largest multi-functional interiors, and
the equally splendid banqueting
Tallinn, joined the League. It exercised total control over Madonna of the Roses Hanseatic city. This 15th-century woodcut shows a halls and ballrooms, such as the
trade from the Baltic in the east to England in the west. The 15th-century painting by view of the city with its numerous church spires. Gürzenich in Cologne. The main
Hanseatic cities were among the wealthiest in Europe, and Stefan Lochner of the cathedrals in the cities were
Cologne School.
crafts and the arts flourished there. dedicated either to St Mary
or St Nicholas. The gabled
residential houses had narrow
Harbour façades with distinctive portals.
officials in The townscape of the port areas
their offices was dominated by granaries,
Hanse ships, loaded warehouses and numerous cranes.
with merchandise, The cities were all enclosed and
entering the harbour protected by solid fortifications.

The Leichter
was a harbour
Revenue officials boat used to
awaiting the cargo carry cargo from
the ships to
The Wise and Foolish Maidens the warehouses.
The flowering of art in the Hanseatic cities brought about
works such as this portal of Magdeburg Cathedral. The town hall in Brunswick
(Braunschweig), with its open
upper arcades and statues of the
Crucifix in Welfs, is one of the finest surviving
Lübeck Cathedral Hanseatic secular buildings.
This crucifix is one of Round Hamburg
only few painted wooden merchants
wood-carvings made cranes with
by Bernt Notke of swivelling arms
Lübeck that have were used to
survived until today. unload ships.
One example
still survives
in Lüneburg.
Russian
merchants,
recognizable by
their distinctive
clothing, are
engrossed
in intense
negotiations.
The Port of Hamburg
Hamburg, along with Bremen, Lübeck and
Cogs Gdansk, was one of the leading Hanseatic The Kröpeliner Tor in Rostock
Heavy, flat-bottomed sailing ships cities. In the 14th century, it was the main is one of 22 towers on the
with limited manoeuvrability, cogs were centre for trade between the North Sea and defensive walls around the
medieval city centre.
fishermen’s and merchants’ boats or navy the Baltic. This miniature, showing the port
vessels in the North Sea and the Baltic of Hamburg, dates from the 15th century.
from the 12th to the 14th centuries.

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight history template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 7th January 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm