The Hanse, an association of northern German merchants that transformed into a community of cities in the mid-14th century and rose to become a major power in Northern Europe, is a unique historical entity. As nation-states lose significance today, the remarkable dimension of this economic community, which encompassed the entire North and Baltic Sea region and existed for nearly half a millennium, becomes increasingly evident. It not only shaped the economy and politics but also the bourgeois culture, extending to architecture, still recognizable today in old Hanseatic cities like Lübeck and Braunschweig. Philipp Dollinger's comprehensive presentation, characterized by its closeness to sources and good readability, is considered the foundation for any engagement with the Hanse. Nils Jörn and Volker Henn have carefully updated and brought the entire text up to date.