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To grasp how Northern Germany attained its power in the modern age, the discerning, history-loving traveler should begin with a look to the sea. For most of the medieval age, the North Sea was profoundly influential in the development of one of Europe’s most powerful regions long before it began attracting bird watchers and nature lovers. Forming what was called the Hanseatic League, northern German cities like Hamburg and Bremen made a mint in collaboration with other port cities, from Bruges to Tallinn,…