Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

the Hanse

Noun

/ðə ˈhænzə/

Definition

The Hanse, or Hanseatic League, was a medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their towns in Northwestern and Central Europe.

Examples

The Hanse was instrumental in the trade of goods like timber, fish, and grains in the Baltic Sea region.
Many cities, including Lübeck and Hamburg, were key members of the Hanse, boosting their economies thanks to the league’s influence.
Today, the legacy of the Hanse can be seen in the architecture and culture of its former member cities.

Meaning

The term ‘the Hanse’ refers to a collective group of cities and towns that united for the purpose of protecting their mutual trading interests and establishing commercial privileges.