LOOKING IN FROM THE EDGE: NEW PERSPECTIVES ON EARLY MODERN TRADE BETWEEN SHETLAND, ORKNEY, AND GERMAN HANSEATIC MERCHANTS

Abstract

This article delves into the transformative impact of reframing narratives on historical trade relationships across the North Atlantic, focusing on the islands of Orkney and Shetland. Drawing from the Looking in from the Edge (LIFTE) research project and its associated museum exhibition, hosted at the German Maritime Museum, Bremerhaven, the study challenges traditional perceptions. It highlights the Hanse, initially a network of German merchants connecting major European cities, expanding into North Atlantic trade in the 15th century. The research explores long-term relations between Hanseatic merchants and Shetland communities, re-evaluating the islands' roles in early modern European trading networks and capitalist markets.