THE PLACE OF THE GERMAN LAND IN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMY AND ITS IMPACT ON ETHNIC IDENTITY

Filatova Sofya Alekseevna

The article analyzes the position of the German lands in the 14th–17th centuries within the European and global economy and the process of forming German ethnic self-awareness. It is noted that the political fragmentation of the Holy Roman Empire coexisted with the active development of trade, crafts, and finance. Special attention is given to the role of the Hanseatic League, Frankfurt fairs, and the banking houses of the Fuggers and the Welsers. The study examines the impact of the Reformation and Luther’s translation of the Bible on cultural identity, as well as the consequences of the Thirty Years’ War. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of economic and spiritual factors in shaping German identity and the role of the German lands in early modern European history.

Keywords:German lands, Holy Roman Empire, Hanseatic League, Reformation, ethnic self-awareness, economy, Thirty Years’ War.