Gone Medieval When the Vikings met the Slavs
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Nov 28, 2025 Join historian Martin Witteritter, author of "Vikings in the East," as he delves into Viking encounters with the Slavs. He discusses the significant shift in Viking expansion due to disrupted trade around 750-800. The Ingvar runestones reveal harrowing tales of expeditions and their cultural impacts. Martin highlights how Norse traders integrated into Silk Road networks and explores the complexities of Viking and Slavic relations. Lastly, he examines the lasting influence of Kievan Rus on modern identities in Russia and Ukraine.
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Eastern Trade Sparked Western Viking Expansion
- The Viking Age's western expansion was triggered by disruptions in eastern trade and silver flows around 750–760 CE.
- Swedish Vikings began moving east along Baltic coasts and river systems about the same time as western raids began.
Ingvar Stones Show Eastern Ambition
- The Ingvar runestones memorialise a catastrophic expedition to the Caspian in 1041 and underline eastern voyages' prestige.
- Multiple runestones and an Icelandic saga preserve the event and its wide geographic reach.
Norse Traders Plugged Into The Silk Roads
- Archaeology and Islamic chronicles show Norse traders (Ar-Russ) reached Baghdad and plugged into Silk Road networks.
- Finds like a Buddha from Swat in Sweden reveal long-distance trade links, not direct travel to every origin.
