The Hanseatic League was a union of Northern European market towns from approx. 1200 to 1500. It mainly consisted of German market towns.

The Hanseatic League was created by thriving merchants from Köln. The league established four offices in respectively London, Bruges, Bergen, and Novgorod. Gradually, the Hanseatic League achieved a monopoly in trade in Northern Europe - thus making the Hanseatic League politically powerful.

Unfortunately, the members of the Hanseatic League could not agree due to difference of opinions. Therefore, the Hanseatic League was dispersed in 1500.