This enquiry focuses on the themes of economy and trade, using a game: the ‘Hansa League Merchants’ Game’.
This fun games helps students to develop an appreciation of the interconnectedness of trade and commerce in medieval Europe.
In the lesson, students are first asked to respond to an odd question: Why were the early 1400s a bad time to be a Russian squirrel? Once it has been explained that Russian squirrel furs represented prized cargo for merchants and consumers in the medieval period, students learn more about the development of the Hansa League.
They play against one another, aiming to be the more successful Hansa League merchant as they accrue and lose points depending on the circumstances in which they find themselves.
A couple of final activities give students the chance to reflect on what they’ve learnt about the trade facilitated by the League, as they identify the main pros and cons of working as a Hansa League merchant.
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- Lesson presentation: PowerPoint
- Lesson write-up: PDF
- Worksheets 1: PDF
- Resource 1: PDF
