Reach of Globalization in 18th Century Germany: Atlantic Products from Hamburg to Saxon Markets

This study explores the economic cohesion of two German areas, Hamburg and Saxony, in the 18th century, created through the inflow of Atlantic colonial groceries from the former to the latter. Combining different kinds of sources revealed the following. The trade flow from Hamburg to German lands began to shift from Prussia to Saxony in the middle of the 18th century. Within Saxony, the market was concentrated in two locations: the court city Dresden and proto-industrial district of Upper Lusatia. What made Saxony stand out were its liberal commercial policy and the development of rural trade. However, given that the growth of the market in Saxony was confined to geographically narrow zones, and that Prussia refused to be integrated with Hamburg, I concluded that the German market was distorted.