Hanseatic League: A commercial alliance formed by merchant guilds in Northern Europe during the late Middle Ages. It facilitated trade and protected merchants' interests.
Silk Road: An ancient network of trade routes connecting Asia with Europe. It played a significant role in facilitating long-distance trade between East and West.
Guilds: Associations of craftsmen or merchants that governed specific trades or industries. They regulated production, set quality standards, and controlled prices within their respective cities or towns.