Ep. 113: The Hanseatic League (1143-1669) - The Economics - Bergen and Bruges
History of the Germans from the Middle Ages to Reunification
Dirk Hoffmann-Becking
4.9 • 551 Ratings
🗓️ 20 July 2023
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Today we will talk about the Bryggen, the famous Hanseatic Kontor or trading post in Bergen in western Norway. Bergen itself was never a member of the Hanseatic League, but like The St. Peter’s yard in Novgorod, the steelyard in London and the Kontor of Bruges, the Bryggen in Bergen was a key element of the Hanseatic trading network.
The trade in stockfish from Bergen was never on the same scale as the herring trade off Scania or the trade in beeswax and furs from Novgorod, but it was an important springboard for members of the lower classes to join the long-distance merchants. And the way the Hanse was able to gain a stranglehold over the proud Vikings of Norway is a cautionary tale of failed macro-economic policies.
If you think the Norwegians are unique in falling prey to aggressive Hanseatic trade policies, think again. Even the mighty Bruges, the warehouse of the medieval world” was made to grant these merchants from the Holy Roman empire far reaching privileges.
Some have considered these events as the beginnings of a long process of specialisation in Europe that condemned the East to become the giant breadbasket that fed the industrialising West. I doubt things are that simple, but let’s have a look at the different arguments….
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to the History of the Germans, Episode 113, Bergen and Bruges. |
| 0:11.1 | Today we'll talk about the Brighen, the famous Hanseatic Contour trading post in Bergen |
| 0:15.7 | in Western Norway. |
| 0:17.8 | Bergen itself was never a member of the Hanseatic League, but like the St. Peter's Yard in Novgorod, the steel yard in London and the Contra of Bruges, the Bruggen and Bergen was a key element of the Hanseatic trading network. The trade in stockfish from Bergen wasn't on the same scale as the herring trade of Skannier or the trade in Beesex and Firfs from Novgorod, but it was an important |
| 0:38.0 | springboard for members of the lower classes to join the long-distance merchants. |
| 0:43.0 | And the way the Hansa was able to gain a stranglehold over the proud Vikings of Norway |
| 0:47.2 | is a cautionary tale of failed macroeconomic policies. |
| 0:51.6 | If you think the Norwegians are unique in falling prey to aggressive Hanseatic trade policies, |
| 0:56.0 | think again. |
| 0:57.0 | Even the mighty Bruges, the warehouse of the medieval world, was made to grant these merchants |
| 1:02.0 | from the Holy Roman Empire far-reaching privileges. |
| 1:06.0 | Some have considered these events as the beginnings of a long process of specialization |
| 1:10.0 | in Europe that |
| 1:11.0 | condemned the East to become the giant breadbasket that fed an industrializing West. |
| 1:16.2 | I doubt things are that simple, but let's have a look at the different arguments. |
| 1:21.8 | Before we start, let me tell you that the history of the German podcast is advertising |
| 1:25.1 | free thanks to the generous support from patrons, and you can become a patron too and enjoy exclusive bonus episodes and other |
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| 1:34.5 | All you have to do is sign up at patreon.com slash history of the Germans or on my website, |
| 1:39.3 | historyof the Germans.com. You find all the links in the show notes, and thanks a lot to |
| 1:43.9 | Peter M, John S, Emily F, |
| 1:46.6 | and Matthew G who've already signed up. |
... |
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