What was the Hanse? Was it a powerful alliance of cities or just a loose network of influential merchants from Low German towns? Scholars from many countries are still discussing these and other questions about the phenomenon of the Hanse. There are countless publications on the topic - so why another book? Because "Hanse vividly" approaches the subject of the Hanse in an unconventional way. Heinz-Joachim Draeger designs his works under the motto "A picture is worth a thousand words," focusing not just on mere representations of the visible. Instead, he brings historical events, figures, and buildings to life with a casual stroke before our eyes, making things, processes, and intellectual connections tangible without needing to describe them in lengthy detail. He does this in a humorous, easily understandable, and varied manner, always knowledgeable.