IMC 2014: Sessions

Session 1132: Cities and Power in Germanic Countries in the Later Middle Ages

Wednesday 9 July 2014, 11.15-12.45

Moderator/Chair:	Beata Możejko, Zakład Historii Średniowiecza Polski i Nauk Pomocniczych Historii, Uniwersytet Gdański
Paper 1132-a	Small Townships in Medieval Gdańsk, Pomerania, in the Light of Archaeological Investigations (Language: English) Michał Starski, Instytut Archeologii, Uniwersytet Warszawski Index terms: Archaeology - Sites, Daily Life, Technology
Paper 1132-b	Legitimacy Enhancement as a Motivator behind the Hanseatic League (Language: English) Eric Kirby, Department of Management, Texas State University Susan Kirby, Department of Management, Texas State University Index terms: Administration, Economics - Trade, Economics - Urban
Abstract	Paper -a: The Paper is devoted to description of results of archaeological investigations in small townships in Gdańsk (East) Pomerania in medieval times (XIII-XV ct.). The purpose is to show mechanisms of urbanisation and organisation of small cities in former Royal Prussia. The focus is on their demography, handicrafts, everyday life and trade contacts. Paper -b: The Hanseatic League was a commercial federation of guilds and cities in the Baltic region for approximately 500 years. By banding together, these guilds achieved goals that would otherwise be difficult to reach individually. With the rise of the merchant class and the decline of feudalism, guilds increased acceptance and privilege of their members. This paper draws upon legitimacy theory to argue that the Hanseatic League simultaneously built macro-level institutional legitimacy for international trade and merchants as well as organizational-level strategic legitimacy for the League itself, with lessons from their successes being applicable to today's merchants.