This is the story of four Hanseatic merchants. These four characters are used to introduce the geography, communication network and common idea of medieval Europe, which led to the development of the Hanseatic League. The story is built on an interactive game in order to attract young people. Players learn about the relations and common values that traversed state borders in medieval Europe.

The Great Guild of Tallinn was a brotherhood of major merchants who traded overseas. The Great Guild Hall, which was built in 1410, also became a meeting place for merchants from other European cities. Our story starts when merchant Hildebrand Vackinguse from Bruges, whose trading company had connections from Tallinn to Venice; Hans Selhorst from Westphalia, a successful merchant, alderman and ardent supporter of the Reformation; Georg Giese from Danzig, whose home office was located in London; and Lübeck merchant and banker Adolf Greverade were tasting guild beer on the invitation of the most powerful man in Tallinn, coin-maker Urban Dene. After a pleasant evening Urban Dene sets a challenge to his friends – they should go on a journey, where they trade with their colleagues in Riga, Visby, Gdańsk, Flasterbo, Lübeck, Bruges, Venice, Genoa, Paris and other European cities, as well as in Novgorod. What makes this journey special is Urban Dene’s suggestion that each merchant start the journey with 100 ducats in their pockets. This is how a successful merchant was to feel the roots of the Hanseatic League and understand the feeling of unity that motivated people to establish the League. The four merchants will have to make smart choices when buying and reselling the most important medieval goods. Adventures lie ahead of them, caused by unfavourable natural conditions as well as highwaymen. But the meeting place is Tallinn, the Great Guild Hall.

The history of the Great Guild, the biggest medieval merchant association in the Hanseatic League and Tallinn, is closely linked to the history of trade and cultural developments in medieval northern Europe. In mediaeval times, Tallinn’s Great Guild was one of the most important trading organisations in historical Livonia, which had relations with other areas of the Hanseatic League such as cities in northern Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and Livonia. The role of the Hanseatic League in Estonian history has been great: the local mediaeval cities have had close trading and cultural ties to the rest of Europe. Visitors will learn that membership to the Great Guild has included numerous nationalities, testifying to European integration as early as the 14th century. Our story is supported by the Great Guild Hall, where we will also tell the story of the Great Guild. The members of the Great Guild always valued solidarity, charity, the promotion of culture and the development of international trade. Throughout history, the Great Guild upheld Christian moral values and with their behaviour set an example for the rest of the population.
Given Estonia’s close links with the European cultural area, topics like this will expose a wider audience to regional historical developments and integration with Europe.
As the EHL has said: “The Great Guild's history of interactions with the Hanseatic League reveals the intriguing story of European ‘integration’ in medieval times.”