The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-30
ILL.,.
THE HANsEAT1C LEAGUE.


Unquestionably, that body of trade
known to history as the Hanseatic
league was the great promotive power
Of commerce during the period imme
diately preceding and Immediately fol-
lowing the discovery Of America; but
its influence collapsed completely in the
first quarter Of the seventeenth cen
tury, or about the time the Pilgrims
landed on Plymouth Rock The Han
seattle league was only one Of other
similar organizations created for the
protection, advancement and strength
ening of trade. The word "Hanse," In
terpreted from the German language,
with which 1t is more specifically iden-
titled, means, simply, confederation.
There have been various interpretations
put upon the word sea-" but the
meaning Of the entire word "Hanseatic"
is that Of a confederation for sea traf
fc. At any rate, the league was a
combination of seaports having COM
merce with the entire world as 1t ex-
listed in those days. Other leagues
comprised towns on the Rhine The
Swabian league embraced the trading
towns OF the states watered by the
Danube, and every community of trad
ing Importance in the old district of
Swabia, but the Hanseatic league in
cluded primarily the towns Of old Prus-
STA, or the eastern division of Ger
many, Of Esthonia and Livonia, Swe-
den, Norway, Denmark, the Neither
lands, England. France and Spain.
IT'S ORIGIN AND SCOPE.
This great league had its origin at
scme undetermined date near the
~, 1+IrTsx
It was clearly the outcome Of
oppression, enforced under the BAN
ner of Christianity. After the subju-
cation Of certain native tribes a sec
ton of the eastern division of Prussia
was colonized by Intelligent Germans,
who began to devote themselves to
manufactures and trade. The native
population were driven to agriculture
and to the raising of cattle. The two
spirits later combined in the creation
of this commercial element. which for
three centuries dominated all of West
ern Europe. The necessities Of the ma
tives compelled industry, and a mar
ket was supplied for the product by
the invaders. Gradually one town was
linked with another, until the ramifica-
tions Of the league embraced every
principal port OF the northern section
OF the continent of Europe, as well as
the British isles. In large degree It's
object was the protection of sea go
ing craft from piratical depreda-
tlons. 1t was during this period
that Russia began its system Of
material development. The country
was productive then, as now, of grain,
fax, skins, furs, wax, tallow as raw
material, while there were many raw
forest products available, and these
were brought into exchange for vari-
Gus commodities from salted herring to
the richest jewels supplied from the
lower latitudes of Europe and the
Orient. There was some reciprocity
practiced between the league and Swe-
den and Denmark, and the products
in exchange were iron, copper, ginger
pitch, ashes and hemp, as well as the
products of the fisheries Of the great
northern shores of the Baltic and the
North sea. Norway entered the league
and certain privileges were enjoyed
and their manufacturers thrived re-
markably under the inspiration afford
ed by the outlet for trade. 1t was al
accomplishment in those days fol