Gdańsk’s Importance for the Economy of the Baltic Sea Region in the Early Modern Period

Abstract

This article examines the role of the city of Gdańsk (Danzig) as an economic, production, and financial center of the Baltic Sea region in the 16th and 17th centuries. The study is set against the backdrop of profound transformations in the European economy triggered by geographic discoveries, technological advancements, and the integration of regional markets into a broader European system. During this period, the Baltic region developed into a distinct economic zone with specific structures and dependencies, particularly in relation to Western Europe.
The aim of the study is to analyze Gdańsk’s economic functions across multiple domains—maritime trade, industrial production, agricultural integration with its hinterland, and financial services—based on extensive source material, including customs registers, trade agreements, credit documents, and city administrative records. Special attention is paid to the interaction between Gdańsk and its hinterland, and the consequences of its growing trade monopoly.
The analysis shows that Gdańsk was not only a major transshipment hub for agricultural goods but also a dynamic center of artisanal and industrial production increasingly aligned with Western European structures. At the same time, the city's concentration of economic power marginalized other Polish towns and deepened feudal dependencies in the surrounding countryside. Gdańsk's financial system influenced both regional and international capital flows and contributed to the indebtedness of the Polish nobility.
The author concludes that Gdańsk’s rise was closely linked to the strengthening of feudalism, while simultaneously playing a key role in the integration of Poland into the European market. The city's ambivalent position—both fostering progress and inhibiting alternative development paths—makes it a pivotal case for studying the early modern Baltic economy.