The Hanse and after

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The Hanse and after
State formation, merchant elites and the
efficiency of institutions in the Hanse and
Holland, c. 1400-1680
Lex Heerma van Voss and Elise van Nederveen
Meerkerk
Groningen, 8 June 2007
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Introduction

• Central problem and research questions
• Theoretical framework Charles Tilly Douglass
  C. North
• Structure of the presentation

Groningen, 8 June 2007
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Centralization and state formation

• Hanse towns

• Dutch towns

• Traditionally weak in German lands

• Experience with Burgundian/ Habsburg
  centralization

• Resisting increasing
• centralization in
• 15th/16th century

• Reluctantly accepting, then
• voluntary since 1581

• Warfare reluctant to
• contribute, but many
• internal differences

• Warfare reluctant to
• contribute, but able to
• overcome internal difference

Groningen, 8 June 2007
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Representation

• Hanse towns

• Dutch towns

• Cities merchants well represented, sometimes
  conflicts with other groups

• Cities merchants well represented, hardly any
  conflicts with other groups

• Infrequent meetings
• Hanse diets, Hanse
• towns not well-represented
• on central level

• Frequent meetings
• Provincial General States,
• cities actively try to turn
• influence to their advantage

• Straightening out
• differences within League
• becomes harder

• Usually able to overcome
• internal differences

Groningen, 8 June 2007
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Economic policy/efficient institutions

• Hanse towns

• Dutch towns

• Bilateral, personal commercial ties (between
  individuals and towns)

• Multilateral trade relations, more impersonal
  (agents, factors)

• Privileges (e.g. Kontore,
• Fremdenpolitik)

• Promoting relatively free
• commercial exchange

• Cartels, boycotts

• Culmination of financial
• innovations (risk-spreading,
• public debt, organizations
• such as Wisselbank)

Groningen, 8 June 2007
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Conclusions

• Since 14th c. Hanse Holland function next to
  each other, Hanse institutions efficient until
  16th c.
• Changes in 16th c. combination of state
  formation/centralization, representation new
  institutions in favour of Holland
• Very important sequence!

Groningen, 8 June 2007
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The End
Lex Heerma van Voss and Elise van Nederveen
Meerkerk
Groningen, 8 June 2007