Hamburger Gold Coast

I came across this

http://www.dhm.de/ENGLISH/ausstellungen/bismarck/186.htm

The interesting bit is

"At that time, the major trading companies of the free cities of Hamburg and Bremen had already built a far-flung network of outposts throughout the world. The firm of C. Woermann (Hamburg) had been represented on the West African coast since 1847; F. M. Vietor & Sons (Bremen), since 1856. German commercial interests on the East African coast were secured by a treaty with the sultan of Zanzibar in 1859. By the late 1840s the Hamburg family enterprise of J. C. Godeffroy & Son already had trading stations in Cuba and on the coasts of California and Chile. Its first base in the South Seas was Hawaii, with Samoa following in 1857. From there, Godeffroy spread throughout the South Seas to Tahiti, the Solomon Islands, and the islands off the coast of New Guinea (later called the Bismarck Archipelago). In 1876 and 1879 friendship treaties were concluded with the Kingdom of Tonga and with Samoa. The plantations on the islands provided copra (dried coconut meat from which fats can be extracted), sugar cane, and other crops."

Perhaps these economic outposts could be developed?
 

:eek::cool::cool::cool::cool::eek:

Are you a master of Google-fu, by any chance? ;)

The interesting bit is

"At that time, the major trading companies of the free cities of Hamburg and Bremen had already built a far-flung network of outposts throughout the world. The firm of C. Woermann (Hamburg) had been represented on the West African coast since 1847; F. M. Vietor & Sons (Bremen), since 1856. German commercial interests on the East African coast were secured by a treaty with the sultan of Zanzibar in 1859. By the late 1840s the Hamburg family enterprise of J. C. Godeffroy & Son already had trading stations in Cuba and on the coasts of California and Chile. Its first base in the South Seas was Hawaii, with Samoa following in 1857. From there, Godeffroy spread throughout the South Seas to Tahiti, the Solomon Islands, and the islands off the coast of New Guinea (later called the Bismarck Archipelago). In 1876 and 1879 friendship treaties were concluded with the Kingdom of Tonga and with Samoa. The plantations on the islands provided copra (dried coconut meat from which fats can be extracted), sugar cane, and other crops."

Perhaps these economic outposts could be developed?

That would cover it... :cool:

Anyone else have suggestions? ;)
 
I thought the Hansards were screwed by about 1600s, unable to maintain their grip in the face of the power of national monarchies. But in the late medieval era they were very strong, so they could establish outposts anywhere, even in Nth America.
 
The Hansa was a waning power, but Hamburg was just getting started. It used to be just a stagepost on the way between the Baltic trade and Flanders, but with the Atlantic trade coming into its own, it became the entrepot for the entire Elbe basin and much of the Baltic in terms of overseas trade. The city started seriously flourishing after 1600.

Unfortunately, that still doesn't make it a good candidate for colonisation. If it were to acquire colonies, the best time would be the late 17th/early 18th century, one of the peacetime interludes. At that time Hamburg maintained navy ships to convoy its merchantmen and the idea that colonies by minore powers were viable still held on. An African fortress expanded into something a little bigger is feasible. The problem would be holding on to it. Hamburg was officially part of the HRE and thus all too often belligerent by default.

The 19th century is too late for colonies. Hamburg at this point is politically part of the German League and economically part of the informal British Empire. I can't see them trying to grab territory.

If there was an African outpost left over, it would most likely be dedicated to exporting slaves, which would pout the city at loggerheads with the British (OTL Hamburg was an early and enthusiastic signatory of anti-slaving treaties and granted the Royal Navy rights of search and seizure on all its ships). That could put a serious crimp in their economic growth.
 
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