Abstract:

The Hanseatic League was a social and economic league established in the cities of north Germany. It had a great influence on the medieval history of Europe. The League actively promoted the economic connection and development of western and northern Europe, and improved commercial environment of this area at one time. But it was also one of major factors interfering with the political and economic unification in Germany, and brought a series of negative effects to the area and countries concerned. The mid - fifteenth century was a turning point in the history of the Hanseatic League. With the change of political and economic situations of Europe and the exasperation of conflicts of internal interests in the League, it lost a possibility to develop further and went downwards day by day. In the second half of the 17^th century the Hanseatic League exited from the historical stage at last.

Key words: the Hanseatic League, historical influence, cause of fall