TAMH: Trading Ports

Centuries - 16 | 17 | 19

Hamburg in the 16th century

(Hamburg, Germany)

Hamburg's history dates back to a church built by Charles the Great within the Hammaburg around 810. On May 7, 1189, Emperor Frederick I, Barbarossa, confirmed the customs and shipping privileges on the town's river, the Elbe. This is still celebrated annually on Oberseetag. Hamburg joined the Hanseatic League in the 14th century and, because of its huge exports of beer, was known as the Brewhouse of the Hanse. Its status as a free hanseatic town was confirmed by the Reichstag in Augsburg in 1510. Its exit to the North Sea gave it an advantage over its Baltic rivals when transatlantic trade started at this time. During the sixteenth century its commercial importance grew further with the opening there of the first German stock exchange. The population at the time was around 20 000.

Search for voyages to Hamburg in the 16th century.