The Hanse is a German historical myth, an unblemished glorification of past trading splendor. But what was it really? When did it emerge and how did it function? Stephan Selzer analyzes the origins and historical background of this league of cities, its construction and uniqueness, the height of its power, and the decline of the Hanse, which ultimately met its end with the Thirty Years' War. At its peak, the alliance included up to 100 cities. Under the leadership of Lübeck, the Hanse dominated trade in the Baltic and North Sea regions. The area extended from Novgorod to Bergen and London; from Gdansk, Bremen, and Hamburg to the interior regions of Cologne and Hildesheim. Its history provides a rare clarity in explaining medieval economic and social history, aspects of seafaring, piracy, and the great events of the time.