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The Baltic Sea: A Hub of Trade and Cultural Exchange

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Exploring the Baltic Sea's historical significance in Northern Europe's development, this overview highlights its geographical characteristics, role in medieval trade, and the cultural interactions along its coast. The Hanseatic League's dominance in regional trade and the sea's enduring impact on the economy and culture of surrounding nations are also examined.

Geographical Characteristics of the Baltic Sea

The Baltic Sea is an expansive body of brackish water in Northern Europe, flanked by the Scandinavian Peninsula to the northwest and the mainland of Eastern and Central Europe to the south and east, as well as the Danish islands to the west. It extends roughly 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from north to south and about 193 kilometers (120 miles) at its widest point. The sea's coordinates range from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. Surrounding the Baltic Sea are nine countries: Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Germany, and Russia. The sea's drainage basin includes additional countries such as Belarus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Norway, and Ukraine. The Baltic Sea is connected to the North Sea via the Danish Straits and the Kiel Canal, and to the White Sea by the White Sea-Baltic Canal, both of which are vital for international maritime navigation and trade.
Bustling Baltic Sea port during golden hour with a wooden sailing ship at the cobblestone dock, people in period attire loading goods, and distant ships on the horizon.

Historical Role of the Baltic Sea in Medieval Trade

The Baltic Sea was a crucial maritime hub for trade and commerce during the Middle Ages, significantly influencing the region's economy. The Viking Age saw Scandinavian traders establish extensive trade networks around the sea, extending their reach to the Black Sea and southern Russia via Russian rivers. The sea's natural resources, such as fish and amber, were highly prized commodities. Notably, the amber trade, centered around the coasts of present-day Poland, Russia, and Lithuania, dates back to the 12th century. Sweden and Poland exploited the Baltic Sea to export iron and salt, respectively, among other goods. The strategic position of the Baltic Sea made it a bustling trade route from the 13th to the 16th centuries, facilitating the exchange of diverse products and contributing to the economic prosperity of the region.

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00

The ______ Sea, a large body of brackish water, is located in Northern Europe and is bordered by the Scandinavian Peninsula, Eastern and Central Europe, and Danish islands.

Baltic

01

Nine countries, including ______, ______, and ______, surround the Baltic Sea, which spans from 53°N to 66°N latitude and 20°E to 26°E longitude.

Sweden

Germany

Russia

02

Viking Age Scandinavian trade expansion

Scandinavian Vikings established trade networks around Baltic Sea, reaching Black Sea and southern Russia.

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