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What goods did Vikings trade along the Russian river routes?
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Viking
Exhumed Viking ship; in the Viking Ship Museum, Oslo, Norway.
Vikings, often referred to as Varangians in the context of their activities in Eastern Europe, established extensive trade networks along the Russian river systems, including the Dnieper and Volga rivers.
These commercial-military bands traded a variety of goods obtained from the regions they traversed and controlled. The most lucrative commodities in this trade were:
- Slaves: Human trafficking was a central and highly profitable component of their commercial activities.123
- Furs: These were highly sought-after luxury goods in the markets of the East.13
- Natural resources: Traders also dealt in amber, honey, wax, and timber products.2
By controlling these routes, the Vikings facilitated trade between the Baltic region and major centers such as Constantinople and the Caspian Sea. The success of these ventures is evidenced by the significant quantities of Arab silver coins discovered in Scandinavia, which served as payment for these goods.123