The Hanseatic city of Hamburg has a long and eventful history. This book vividly and insightfully traces the journey from its humble beginnings in the 9th century to the metropolitan city of millions it is today. Even though powerful walls surrounded the city until the 19th century, Hamburg has always been an open-minded place as a trading center. From the merchant settlement of the Middle Ages, it grew into the proud free imperial and Hanseatic city that became the most important economic center of Northern Germany. Martin Krieger tells this story from a holistic perspective, highlighting the interplay of political, economic, cultural, and urban development. Thus, this book bridges the gap between the present and the past for a city whose fascinating history may not be immediately apparent to many today.