Goslar was a member of the Hanseatic alliance for almost 300 years. However the city did not rely on the membership to make profit from long-distance trade, but to be able to hold its own against its neighbours. In particular Goslar focused on the trade in copper and silver, but also in the export of beer and slate extraction. However as Goslar predominantly traded with cities in the region, the Hanseatic trade never had priority there.