The Hansa and Swahili interregional trading systems shared many similarities and differences. Both the Hansa and Swahili strongly desired to extend their trading sites to far distances and maintained political unity over the course of the postclassical era. Their differences were equally important. The Hansa and Swahili differed in their economical, cultural aspects, as to how the trade they conducted with outside societies helped integrate and expand their cities.
Documents 2,4, 6 exemplify how the The Hansa was not controlled by merchants, but rather, each city was governed by its own lords who took part in important affairs. The German Hansa was known as a firm confederation of many cities and communities, which ensured that business enterprises by the land and sea should provide effective protection against pirates and highwaymen. According to Doc 6, “staple goods must be brought to the markets in Flandes and Holland, and must pass through the market at Bruges. In addition, it is evident from Doc 4 the declaration of the…show more content… The intention behind this was to exclude outside foreigners from practicing that guild’s craft. However, according to Doc 9, shipping and trade routes were often hazardous due to raiding pirates and large groups, so merchants frequently had to travel together and combine resources to hire mercenaries to guard them during journeys.The members of the cities of the league created their own laws and court systems to settle disputes and provided protection for their own city as well as mutual aid for other members’ cities. As a result of how restricted the members of the Hanseatic League could move around, craftsmen and artisans mainly traded commodities such as salt cod, herring, wool, and linen, and relied on caravan to safely reach their
