Answer:
The Hanseatic League was the name for a group of German towns who worked to encourage trade in their regions.
Explanation:
The Hanseatic League or Hansa, German Hansa, was a commercial and defensive organisation founded by the merchant communities in the North German towns and also those abroad in order to protect their trading interests. This league came to dominate the Baltic maritime trade for around three centuries along the coast of Northern Europe, the co-operation and mergers of the merchants helping in the success of this league.