Maritime Trade of Gdańsk in the First Half of the 16th Century

Abstract

This article explores the structure and dynamics of Gdańsk’s maritime trade during the first half of the 16th century—a period marked by major transformations in the Baltic economy and the emergence of global trade. The research is set against the backdrop of Gdańsk’s growing importance as a center for the export of Polish grain and the redistribution of colonial and industrial goods into Central and Eastern Europe.
The aim of the study is to analyze, based on port customs registers from Gdańsk dated 1510, 1530, and 1557, the composition of imports and exports, their relative value, and the main commercial trends. These primary sources, though incomplete, allow for a partial reconstruction of trade flows and their structural evolution.
The analysis reveals that imports were dominated by cloth, fish, spices, and colonial products, reflecting stronger ties with the Netherlands and other Western European regions. Exports were centered primarily around grain—especially rye—followed by timber, metals, and forest products. The study highlights a trend toward the concentration of the grain trade in the hands of a decreasing number of large merchants, reflecting a dynamic of capital accumulation and the professionalization of maritime trade.
The author also draws attention to the social and cultural aspects of port trade, such as the continued observance of religious holidays despite the emergence of the Reformation. Gdańsk’s trade thus reflects broader regional economic transformations within the growing context of globalization in the early modern period.