| History / Hanse / yesterday |
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The
significance of the Hanse for Gardelegen in former times |
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| Gardelegen
has been an official member of the north-western city-hanse
since 1358. |
| The
Hanse was a historically grown merchant- and city-community. It
existed in different actions and characteristics between the
13th and 16th century. The most important trade area has always
been the coast of the East- and North sea and their direct
Anrainer-areas. |
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As
a result of this the Altmark is not one of the preferred areas
of the Hanse; the long-distance traders used the Altmark as a
pass way-area, they used the town of the Altmark as secure and
confederate interstations and side stations of the trade road
from North to South. The significance of the Altmark for the
historic Hanse was therefore not that big compared to other
areas.
|
 But
the significance of the Hanse for the cities of the Altmark, for
the middle classes, for the area "Altmark", for the
town Gardelegen is much higher. The effectiveness of hanseatic
activities and arrangements was in a time where the bigger
villages would advance and turn into towns. Especially because
of the Hanse a stable self-confidence of the people of the town
developed; the towns would purposefully get privileges in civic
self-administration and in the life of economy and industry, and
they used them energetic. The historic time of the Hanse in the
Altmark is identical with the time of the historic
city-alliances of the Altmark, which showed, for the first time
regional consciousness, regional feeling of solidarity and
regional commitment of the people of the towns of the Altmark.
Most cities of the Altmark came when getting out of the time of
the Hanse into their historical bloom. |
| Gardelegen
had to leave the Hanse in the year 1488 because they took part
in riots against the taxation of beer. The leaving was a
punishment of the landlord towards the citizens of the town
Gardelegen. |
| Shortly
after 1500 Gardelegen was in its historical bloom, where the
citizens and the commune came to a never-guess and never again
received wealth. |
