| Trade and Towns
| | The medieval trade routes took its starting point in the trade routes of the Viking Age.
Gradually technology and the cargo-carrying capacity was improved and the kogge relieved the knar boats.
The region´s surplus of mainly foods was sold in a complicated trade pattern, which also was the foundation of the growth in the urban communities. |
All the way back in prehistoric times there have been trade between the North and Southern Europe and in the late Iron Age and early Viking Age amber, fur and slaves have been sold and traded for luxury goods like glass.
In the 8th century the trade between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe was arranged via the Frankish realm, but when it succumbed in the beginning of the 9th century and the Arabs conquer large parts of the Mediterranean the North in the Viking Age came to play an important part in north-south as well as the east-west trade. In southern Scandinavia Hedeby in Southern Jutland became a prominent trade centre, whereas further to the east and north are Gotland and Birka in Sweden.
Trade Routes |
Shiptypes
It was mainly the Vikings´ ship technology, which secured them a preferential position in the Baltic trade from around the year 800. Magnates and peasants fitted out ships for expeditions in long ships, which could carry around 9 tons.
The later developed, but also clinker-built ships of the knar type, which also were used for sailing in the North Atlantic, could carry around 20 tons.
In the beginning of the period it was probably difficult to discern between looting- trade- and colonization expeditions, but around the transition to the Middle Ages around the year 1050, trade plays a more important part. This is mainly due to the ship type the kogge, which could carry up to 30 tons and around the year 1200 up to 200 tons.
Kogge and knarr | 
Knarr | 
Kogge | 
The Malmøkogge | 
Model |
Hork |
Goods Types
From around this time the trade also changes to more everyday articles like corn, fish and meat, which come from the surplus production provided by the new cultivation methods. These products could be sold in the town communities, which flourishes in the course of the 12th and 13th century in Northern Germany. These Hanseatic towns came to control large parts of the trade in the Baltic by way of an organizational and technological superiority.
The Town Development
The town development in the beginning of the Middle Ages is limited. Hedeby loses its prominent part and Lübeck is around 1300 a trade centre in the Baltic area. In Denmark there are only around 20 towns around 1150 and although the number increased to 60 around 1250, they were of limited character, often localised close to castles, where the inhabitants could seek shelter in uncertain times of war or piracy. The many towns with the prefix –borg (castle), for instance Helsingborg and Vordingborg testify to this.
The question as to how the towns in the Middle Ages come into being and developed is still the subject of debate. The royal power may be the cause as well as the trade and the beginning of range production.
The Cities | 
Lübeck | 
Visby | 
Stege |
Early Towns
Lund, Helsingborg and Roskilde in Zealand are founded before 1150. Of these Lund can be taken back to the 11th century. Under the reign of Knud den Store(1018-1035) Lund developed into the most important currency place in Denmark and crafts waste show signs of range production at the end of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century.
Most towns have been founded before 1350. Some of the like Næstved, Ringsted and Sorø are in the country, while others, typically the –borg towns, are situated on the coasts and are connected to the increasing trade and production along the coasts. Most of the borg towns are placed in the southern part of the region, facing the German area. It also reflects the political and cultural orientation in the Middle Ages. Later towns are mainly placed around the Sound. |