In this lecture, we explored the history of the Baltic littoral in the post-Viking era.  We traced the rise of the powerful Hanseatic League, the confederation of merchants and cities, which at its height ruled the Baltic from London to Novgorod and brought princes, pirates, and prelates to heel.  We then looked at the challenges to the power and influence of the Hansa, including the formation of the powerful Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. 

We also looked at the rise and Golden Ages of the kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden, Prussia, and Russia, as well as Norway’s slow but steady progress towards independence.