Middle Low German facts for kids
Middle Low German was an important language spoken in northern Germany a long time ago, during the Middle Ages. It was a step in the development of the Low German language. This language started to be written down around the 13th century.
It was very important for trade and communication. The Hanseatic League, a powerful group of trading cities, used Middle Low German for their business. This language also shared many words with other languages, especially those in the Nordic countries like Swedish.
Contents
What is Middle Low German?
Middle Low German grew out of an even older language called Old Saxon. It was spoken in the northern parts of Germany. Think of it like an older version of a language, similar to how Old English is an older version of modern English.
When was it used?
People used Middle Low German mainly during the Middle Ages. The first written examples we have are from the 1200s. It was a common language for many centuries.
Why was Middle Low German important?
This language played a big role in history. It was not just for talking every day. It was also used for important things like trade, laws, and agreements between different groups.
Language of Trade
The Hanseatic League was a strong group of trading cities around the Baltic Sea. They used Middle Low German to do business across many countries. This helped the language spread and become well-known.
Influence on other languages
Because of all the trade, Middle Low German influenced other languages. For example, the Swedish language borrowed many words from it. These are called "loanwords," which are words taken from one language and used in another.
Used for Laws and Agreements
Middle Low German was also used for official documents. People wrote treaties (agreements between countries) and used it in diplomacy (how countries talk to each other). This shows how important and respected the language was.
Surviving Texts
One famous example of Middle Low German writing is the Sachsenspiegel. This was an important book of laws from the Middle Ages. It helps us understand how people lived and what their laws were like back then.
Images for kids
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This old book from 1531 is called The Imperial City of Lübeck's Christian Ordinance. It talks about Christian life, rules, peace, and how to teach young people in school. It also covers how to care for church workers and the poor.
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This is a page from a book called Reynard the Fox, published in 1498. It's a famous story from the Middle Ages. This book was printed in Lübeck, a big trading city. You can see the special old style of writing, called blackletter, that was common for Middle Low German books.
See also
In Spanish: Bajo alemán medio para niños
