In his comprehensive study from 1912, Bernhard Hagedorn examines the development of East Frisian transport life from the end of the 16th century to the Peace of Westphalia. Building on the analysis of the economic and trade policy situation at the beginning of the 1680s, he shows how the political events in Europe in the following decades affected East Frisian maritime trade. He describes, among other things, the establishment of the Merchant Adventurers in Emden, the impacts of the Dutch War, the Emden Revolution, and finally the collapse of East Frisian trading power. His sources include records and documents from archives in Aurich, Emden, and Groningen. This is a reprint of the original edition.