New Books Network Martyn Whittock, "Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin – The Origins of a Contested Legacy in Russia and Ukraine" (Biteback, 2025)
Oct 19, 2025
Martyn Whittock, a historian and author specializing in early medieval history, delves into the often-overlooked Viking journeys into Eastern Europe. He discusses how these Norse traders established the Rus and their significant interactions with Byzantium. Whittock reveals the complex origins of the idea of 'Holy Russia' and its manipulation by rulers like Putin. He emphasizes the importance of understanding historical narratives, urging that while history shapes identities, it doesn't confine them.
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Who The Eastern Vikings Were
- "Viking" described an activity, not an ethnicity; Norse people did many roles beyond raiding.
- Swedish Norse pioneers drove eastward as fragmented groups, not state armies.
River Routes Connected To The Silk Roads
- Norse traders long used river routes, log boats, sledges and winter travel to reach the Islamic world.
- From c.800 huge streams of Islamic silver plugged Scandinavia into the western Silk Roads.
Founding Myths Of Rus
- The Russian Primary Chronicle narrates Norse adventurers like Rurik founding Novgorod and Kiev.
- These semi-legendary founders reflect later dynastic spin more than neat historical fact.
