#Hanseatic City

[koboldkind]

Christmas right behind the dike in Hamburg this year. Ground floor. Hamburg storm surges will forever fascinate me.

[delsograf]

Gdańsk - Old hanseatic city - Time lapse 4K

Gdańsk - Stare hanzeatyckie miasto budzi się do życia..

(Eng) Gdańsk (Poland) -Former Hanseatic city ,medieval city republic. The city offers many great preserved and rebuilt historical buildings. Here you will find the world's largest gothic brick church, the largest water mill and a medieval harbor crane. 

 (Pl) Gdańsk -dawne miasto hanzeatyckie, średniowieczna republika miejska. Miasto oferuje wiele świetnie zachowanych i odbudowanych zabytków. Warto zobaczyć m.in największy na świecie gotycki kościół ceglany, największy młyn wodny i średniowieczny dźwig portowy.

Music: https://soundcloud.com/blue-wolves-606324051/blue-wolves-dusk-in-gedanum-v-mix

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

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Hamburg Alster Arcades and City Hall

Some Glimpses from Germany for your Weekend :)

[paramedicabroad]

Historic Centres of Stralsund & Wismar

Embark with me on a virtual journey to the historic centers of Stralsund and Wismar, two enchanting Hanseatic cities nestled along the Baltic Sea in Germany. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these coastal gems beckon with their medieval charm, maritime legacies, and a tapestry of architectural wonders that echo the stories of centuries past.

Discover the rich Hanseatic history that binds Stralsund and Wismar. As key members of the Hanseatic League, these cities thrived as trading hubs, fostering cultural exchange and economic prosperity during the medieval period.

Step into Stralsund's Old Town, where gabled houses, Gothic churches, and historic market squares transport you back to the heyday of the Hanseatic League. Marvel at the imposing St. Mary's Church and the iconic Rathaus (Town Hall), testaments to the city's architectural prowess.

Wander through Wismar's expansive Market Square, surrounded by elegant Renaissance-style buildings that showcase the city's prosperity. The Wasserkunst fountain, a symbol of Wismar's maritime achievements, stands as a centerpiece in this historic square.

Admire the Brick Gothic architecture that defines both cities. From Stralsund's iconic St. Nicholas' Church to Wismar's St. George's Church, the red-brick structures stand as enduring symbols of the region's medieval craftsmanship.

The historic centers of Stralsund and Wismar received UNESCO recognition in 2002. The inscription acknowledges their well-preserved urban layouts, architectural ensembles, and maritime heritage, illustrating the symbiotic relationship between land and sea.

Explore the maritime museums in both cities, where exhibits showcase the maritime prowess that fueled their economic prosperity. From shipbuilding to seafaring, these museums offer a glimpse into the seafaring traditions that shaped Stralsund and Wismar.

Immerse yourself in the harbor views of both cities, where the rhythmic ebb and flow of the Baltic Sea have shaped their identities. The harbors are not just gateways to the sea but reflections of the maritime soul that runs deep in the veins of Stralsund and Wismar.

Partake in the vibrant festivals and cultural events that animate these historic centers. From medieval fairs to maritime celebrations, these events breathe life into the cobblestone streets, fostering a sense of community and celebration.

In conclusion, the historic centers of Stralsund and Wismar stand as living testaments to the resilience of Hanseatic heritage and the enduring beauty of coastal cities. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they invite us to traverse their medieval streets and harbor fronts, where the echoes of history resonate with each step. When you're ready for a digital sojourn through time, Stralsund and Wismar promise to captivate and inspire. 🏰🌊🇩🇪

[hunting-songs]

 “Campfire Stories”

Send me “Campfire Stories” and my muse will tell yours about a scary tale, folk story, or even one of their own spooky experiences.

She had fled the noises of the city to the nearest beach. Senritsu had never been a good sleeper, but sleep was nothing but a distant dream, a wish, a fantasy, when she was visiting cities even when the noises would die down at night a little. Those noises never died down enough for her, every breath, every electric buzzing, every honking car, every person turning in their beds, every step on asphalt, was another nail boring into her skull painfully. But sometimes the weather was a blessing and in the grey mist laying over the ocean by the beach like a thick blanket the noises were almost muffled down and if she focused- focused intensely, focused tieredly, focused desperately- enough on the waves and the gulls above she could almost think it was quiet. It was still not quiet enough to not hear Suguru. "It does not sound like the northsea at all.", the woman hummed, running her short, gnarled fingers nimbly through the cold water until they felt numb and cold like lifeless pieces of meat sticking to her arm. Shoes pulled off the woman had crouched down as close to the waves as she could without diving into the ocean, so the cold water would tickle around her ankles and shins icily.

"Much too colourful. Much too rilassato. Ma non troppo murderous. And even with bells and buildings washed over by the waves beneath, it really does not sound like the northsea." The frown on her round face drew a long, deep line between her big eyes as she continued to tieredly listen, listen, listen. She heard the near harbour that never slept, she heard the waves, she heard the buzzing of electricity in the air from the near buildings, she heard Sugurus breathing warm and alive against the cold air, she heard the fish darting through the deeper waters farer out into the bay that were still unbotherd from any fisher or beachvisitor at this early hour. Between all those noises it was still quiet enough to sooth the migraine that the noises of the city hammering, hammering, hammering like ironnails into the Musicians skull would cause.

"Did you know that the oldest northgerman rhyme in songs and poems is Nordsee=Mordsee? Northsea=murdersea, roughly translated. It even shows in the local folklore how much that sea is feared for its murderous nature. When someone drowns at sea, they come back as a Gonger. Named after the Gong-sound the bells of the nightwatch make to announce midnight. So when this bell sounds air through the night the Gonger, bloated up and grey and cold rises out of the sea that had swallowed them. But they do not go after the family waiting for them on the Halligen or by the coast. Instead they hunt down the people seven generations down the line from them who dared to be born and raised and be happy without them. At night the Gonger presses through the smallest space, be that under a door or through a keyhole to lay down ontop of the people they hunt and make them dream of drowning. In the morning this people would wake up with in saltwater drenched sheets and a puddle of the same water covering their bedrooms floor. The Gonger will than fuoco continue to visit them until they either drown just like they do or they remember the drowned person they dare to forget. Most storys end with them drowning. The Gonger is not picky." With a huff Senritsu eventually stood up and stepped back, shaking the water off her gnarled feet even if it did not stopped any sand from sticking to her soles. In the much too early morning the sand was cold, crunching in her much too keen ears loudly beneath her feet like little bones. The noise made her grimace as if she had bitten on a foul fruit and Senritsu just shaked her head gently with a rueful laughter over such a little, normal noise making her flinch uncomfortable: "Its of course nothing but a metaphor for the aimless danger of nature. The Gonger, just like the northsea goes after random people with no connection to another, but the fact that they live near the coast like their drowned relative as people related to another sometimes happen to do. Just as people drown in storms by the sea for no reason but the fact that they happned to live by the sea. Its semplice stories that try to give sense to natural and random happenings." There was a quiet sound when she patted the sand off her cold, numb feet and slipped back into her ballerina shoes. The shells she had collected a few hours before when she had seekd ut the bay and put in her vests pockets clinked against another like bells. Almost, only almost overtuning the heartbeat of the sorcerer Senritsu was listening to. Voices and mechanic roars echoed through the mist from one near harbour slowly waking up from the early hours doozing.

"Well than, dear cicerone," The woman sang those words as sweetly as a song swaying in the tact of the waves when she grinned up to the man in all good humor: " I told you mine, now its your chance to tell me yours. Indulge my curiosity velocità. Maybe that pacific ocean of yours is indeed as murderous as my atlantic ocean, mhmmmmmmmmm?" [ @uzumakiuser ]

[elbiotipo]

I'm always criticizing eurocentric fantasy worldbuilding, but one thing I think it's underused are city-states and trade republics and leagues. Not that they don't exist, but they're often in the background, the fantasy genre is so focused on monarchies and dynasties and noble drama, while those systems have so much room for intrigue and stuff without getting into "who's the TRUE heir of the super magical monarch" (yes, I know they had aristocratic families that ruled almost as monarchs, but trust me, Medici drama is another beast from regular feudal stuff)

Venice with its stupidly complex election system and their eternal rivals in Genoa, Florence home of the Rennaissance, the Hanseatic League, and lesser known examples like Novgorod, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Taifa of Córdoba, the Consolat de Mar (technically not a republic but kind of an Iberian Hansa) and if we go farther back, the leagues of city states of antiquity... you know what, I'm bored of feudalism. Next time I do a fantasy setting, it will all be city states and republics. Fuck feudalism.

[magicmod]

Streets of Groningen / Netherlands

[notesfromasmallworld]

The heavy duty landmark crane

As landsmarks go, this architectural symbol of Gdansk is of similar prominence as the Petronas Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur and the Big Ben tower clock in London. First built before 1367CE, and rebuilt after a fire a century later, this was for a time the largest crane in the world. Used for putting masts on sailships and loading/unloading of cargo, the building also served as a city gate. The Crane could lift 4 metric tonnes to a height of eleven meters. Two enourmous 6 meter wheels at first powered by people walking inside them made the lifting mechanism work. This crane was in use for 500 years, until the end of the 1800s. Most of the woodwork burned in the battle of Gdansk in 1945. After reconstruction, the crane and gate was donated to the Maritime Museum of Gdansk as part of their exhibitions. At the moment of writing, the Crane is closed for renovations. https://www.inyourpocket.com/gdansk/the-crane_16203v — in Gdansk Poland Harbour.

[soracities]

A poem, being an instance of language, hence essentially dialogue, may be a letter in a bottle thrown out to sea with the—surely not always strong—hope that it may somehow wash up somewhere, perhaps on a shoreline of the heart.

—Paul Celan, from “Speech on the Occasion of Receiving the Literature Prize of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen” (1958), trans. Rosmarie Waldrop

[delsograf]

Szczecin 4K Time Lapse (2)

(Pl) W X wieku Ibrahim ibn Jakub opisał Szczecin jako gród o nazwie Sadżin (niekiedy określany także jako Sedinum lub Sasin). Badacze historii uważają, że dzieje słowiańskiej osady mogą sięgać przynajmniej niecałych 2 tys. lat. Dawny gród uchodził za największe miasto i "matkę innych grodów". Miasto i region bardzo długo opierały się chrystianizacji. DO Polski na pół wieku region przyłączył Mieszko I ,później republika odzyskała niezależność i na kolejne pół wieku została podpita przez Chrobrego. W XIII wieku Szczecin stał się miastem hanzeatyckim. Wtedy ukończono także budowę murów obronnych. Po wygaśnięciu rodu Gryfitów region przechodził w ręce Brandenburgii, Danii i Szwecji. Każdy okres pozostawił po sobie niezwykłe zabytki jednak w czasie nalotów alianckich pod koniec II wojny światowej miasto poważnie ucierpiało. Z jego panoramy zniknęły wspaniałe mosty zwodzone i wiele znakomitych budowli. Dziś Szczecin przywraca do życia tereny po dawnej "starówce". Zmienia się także wyspa Łasztownia-dawne zaplecze miasta pełne spichlerzy oraz liczne tereny nad Odrą. 

(Eng) In the 10th century, Ibrahim ibn Jakub described Szczecin as a settlement called Sadżin (or Sedinum, Sasin). History researchers believe that the history of a Slavic settlement may reach at least less than 2,000. years. The former stronghold was considered to be the largest city and "the mother of other strongholds". The city and the region resisted Christianization for a long time. Mieszko I joined Poland for half a century, then the republic regained its independence and for the next half a century it was drunk by Chrobry. In the 13th century, Szczecin became a Hanseatic city. At that time, the construction of the defensive walls was also completed. After the Griffit's family died out, the region passed into the hands of Brandenburg, Denmark and Sweden. Each period left remarkable monuments, however, during the Allied air raids at the end of World War II, the city suffered severely. Magnificent drawbridges and many remarkable buildings have disappeared from its panorama. Today, Szczecin is bringing back to life the area of ​​the former "old town". The island of Łasztownia is also changing - the former hinterland of the city full of granaries and numerous areas on the Oder.

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

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Elbphilharmonie Hamburg/Germany

Some Glimpses from Germany for your Weekend :)

[paramedicabroad]

Hanseatic City of Lübeck

Join me on a virtual journey to the enchanting Hanseatic city of Lübeck, a UNESCO World Heritage Site nestled along the shores of the Baltic Sea in Germany. This medieval gem invites you to stroll through its cobblestone streets, marvel at Gothic architecture, and delve into a rich tapestry of history that has shaped the city for centuries.

Discover the legacy of Lübeck as a prominent member of the Hanseatic League. As a key trading hub, the city played a crucial role in shaping maritime commerce and cultural exchange during the medieval period.

Stand before the iconic Holstentor, a medieval city gate that serves as a symbol of Lübeck's historical strength and prosperity. The twin-towered gate, adorned with red-brick Gothic architecture, welcomes visitors into the heart of the city.

Wander through Lübeck's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts a well-preserved medieval urban layout. Admire the gabled houses, picturesque courtyards, and Gothic churches that grace the cityscape.

Marvel at St. Mary's Church, a Gothic masterpiece that dominates Lübeck's skyline. The church's soaring spires and intricate details make it a testament to the city's architectural prowess and historical significance.

Indulge in Lübeck's famous marzipan, a sweet treat that has been crafted with precision and passion for centuries. Visit Niederegger, the renowned marzipan manufacturer, to witness the artistry behind this delectable confection.

Immerse yourself in the Hanseatic Museum, where exhibits transport you back in time to Lübeck's Hanseatic glory days. Explore the maritime artifacts, trade routes, and the stories of merchants who once navigated the Baltic Sea.

Stroll along the banks of the Trave River, where the city's skyline is reflected in the tranquil waters. The riverfront offers a peaceful escape and breathtaking views of Lübeck's historic architecture.

Partake in Lübeck's vibrant festivals and cultural events that celebrate the city's rich heritage. From the medieval market to the Christmas markets, these events bring the past to life and infuse the city with a sense of festivity.

In conclusion, Lübeck beckons us to traverse its medieval streets and harbor fronts, where every cobblestone tells a story of Hanseatic glory. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it stands as a testament to the enduring beauty of maritime cities and the cultural richness they harbor. When you're ready for a digital sojourn through time, Lübeck promises to captivate and inspire. 🏰🌊🇩🇪

[kitchen-light]

Only one thing remained reachable, close and secure amid all losses: language. Yes, language. In spite of everything, it remained secure against loss. But it had to go through its own lack of answers, through terrifying silence, through the thousand darknesses of murderous speech. It went through. It gave me no words for what was happening, but went through it. A poem, being an instance of language, hence, essentially dialogue, may be a letter in a bottle thrown out to sea with the — surely not always strong — hope that it may somehow wash up somewhere, perhaps on a shoreline of the heart. In this way, too, poems are en route; they are headed toward. Toward what? Toward something open, inhabitable, an approachable you, perhaps, an approachable reality.

Paul Celan, from a speech given on the occasion of being awarded the Literature Prize of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, sourced here

[elbiotipo]

Some scattered thoughts about worldbuilding in Genshin Impact

Mondstadt is tiny compared to all the other* regions of Teyvat, though the city itself is big. However, what's really interesting to me is how close it is to Liyue, which is huge. I joke with my friend that one of the best and funniest things about Genshin is when you first start and after a while the game tells you "you wanna go to China bro? It's just south by that road" and you go and you're indeed in Liyue, no problem, it's so easy.

However, in realistic terms this makes me curious about how a small nation like Mondstadt next to Liyue would develop in realistic terms. The contrast between European-inspired Mondstadt and Chinese-inspired Liyue is striking... however, the thing is, they're just a road trip away, and not even a big road like the Silk Road, they're just next to each other. There are no major geographical barriers like with the other nations of Teyvat. And people like Xiangling do cross the border like nothing all the time, so it means there must be lots of contact between them. There also seem not to be any linguistic differences or barriers, but every RPG ignores that so I'll do it too.

What I mean is that Mondstadt should probably have a LOT more influence from Liyue than what we see in-game. This is especially interesting given that historically China (and Liyue is obviously a stand-in for China) has influenced the nations and cultures around it and they have influenced it too. I would imagine this would be the same for Mondstadt.

So it would be fun to imagine Mondstadt to have some more influences from Liyue. You kind of see this in game sometimes, but it might be more obvious in the architecture, in the dress, maybe more subtle things like spirituality or the organization of the knights of Favonius. Not a complete copy of Liyue, of course, but its own unique thing with lots of influence from it adapted to its geography, environment and people. And also, given that it's the "City of Freedom", it always sounded like the real-life city states of Italy or more like Germany to it. It also fits, since it seems to be a major city-state strong on its own (though unlike Liyue, you don't see a big port, and historically that's how big trading cities were born... however, well, there's teleporting in Genshin, so we should ignore that), something like Venice, in fact, a city in the middle of a lake screams Venice. Interesting to think about the Venetian Republic or the Hanseatic League right next to China. How would that develop?

*of course I know the real-world answer: Mondstadt is intended to be the "starter town" and it was probably the first to be developed, and as the developers got more confident they added bigger and bigger regions until we got the bloated, I mean beautiful, mess Teyvat is today.

[st-just]

🔥

Hanseatic League

Deeply underrated in English-language pop culture. Italy stealing all the backstabbing mercenary mercantile city-state valor.

[nanshe-of-nina]

Favorite History Books || The Northern Crusades by Eric Christansen ★★★★☆

The crusades to the Holy Land are well known, or, at least, widely heard of. The crusades against the Albigensian heretics, and against the Muslims of Spain, are familiar to students of medieval history. But the crusades of North-East Europe remain outside the scope of most English readers, and are remembered, if at all, as the subject of Eisenstein’s haunting essay in nationalist propaganda, the film Alexander Nevsky. He is said to have chosen the subject because so little was known about it that the facts were unlikely to interfere with his fictions. This book is an attempt to describe the struggles waged round the Baltic from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries in the name of Christianity, and to explain the part they played in the transformation of Northern societies which took place at the same time. There is no room for more. The general history of the Baltic world will only be referred to in so far as it directly concerns the crusades, and the reader will have to look elsewhere for a proper account of the rise and fall of the Scandinavian kingdoms, the East European principalities, the Hanseatic League, the fish trade, the German colonization of the East, the development of cities, churches and shipping. … Telling this story means keeping at least three balls in the air at the same time: a narrative of campaigns; a survey of ideological developments; and a sketch of political history. The crusades can be understood only in the light of, for example, the Cistercian movement, the rise of the papal monarchy, the mission of the friars, the coming of the Mongol hordes, the growth of the Lithuanian and Muscovite empires, and the aims of the Conciliar movement in the fifteenth century. Dealing briefly with all these big subjects, and linking them to the far north of Europe, has not been easy; and an English reader may well ask, is it worthwhile? There are several reasons for answering yes. In the first place, the Northern crusades were a part of a wider Western drive, and if that is to be studied it should be studied in full – in the most unlikely places, and in the most peculiar forms. The Holy Wars of the Mediterranean brought about spectacular conquests, and enduring obsessions, but amounted in the end to a sad waste of time, money and life. After 200 years of fighting, colonization, empire-building, missionary work and economic development, the Holy Places remained lost to Christendom. The Saracens won. The two faiths remained invincibly opposed, and if the cultures mingled it was not because the Christians had attempted to conquer the Near East; there were more enduring and less explosive points of contact. The Northern crusades were less spectacular, and much less expensive, but the changes they helped to bring about lasted for much longer, and have not altogether disappeared today. The southern coast of the Baltic is still German, as far as the Oder; and it is not sixty years since the Estonians and Balts lost the last traces of their German ascendancy and fell under a new one. Western forms of Christianity survive in all the coastlands opposite Scandinavia, and the Finns remain wedded to Western institutions and tolerant of their Swedish-speaking minority. The reborn republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania look west for support and sympathy. For seven centuries these east-Baltic countries were colonial societies, bearing the mark left by their medieval conquerors whatever outside power tried to annex or change them. If ever the crusades had any lasting effect, it was here, and in Spain.