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Viking trade beyond treasure: Soapstone vessels, whetstones and the everyday economy
Buried Viking treasure hordes may capture the imagination, but they did not fuel everyday life in Viking societies. We look beyond the spoils of pillage and plunder to the ordinary items that underpinned Viking life.5 months ago — Trade -
5 surprising places the Vikings reached
Despite their historical reputation as producing some of the most ravenous warriors of the early medieval period, people from Viking societies were also skilled explorers. They traversed much of the Northern Hemisphere, from the shores of modern-day Canada to the eastern edge of the Caspian Sea.1 year ago — History -
Staraya Ladoga: The first capital of Rus and its Viking roots
Long before the Mongol yoke arrived, before Peter the Great commissioned Russia's "window to the west" on the bones of countless peasants, or the recent oligarchs gutted much of the former Soviet state, there was Staraya Ladoga.1 year ago — History -
The economics of Viking raiding
Typically portrayed as a sudden burst of blood and violence, Viking raids could also be coldly calculated economic expeditions. This very violent form of early economic entrepreneurism shows how the profit motive often underpinned Viking raids.1 year ago — Warfare -
Salty Vikings: Rethinking the motive behind Noirmoutier raids
What if salt, not silver or glory, lay behind one of the earliest Viking raiding campaigns?1 year ago — History -
Trade or tribute? The fine line in Viking negotiations
When do military might and violence combine with diplomacy and wealth? The answer lies in the extraction of the Danegeld, highlighting how people in Viking societies used a combination of commerce and raiding to secure untold riches.1 year ago — Trade -
Book review: Muslims on the Volga during the Viking Age – In the Footsteps of Ibn Fadlan
Worlds collide in this collection of more than 19 essays that detail interactions between the Islamic world, people from Viking societies, and a myriad of other cultures along the Volga River during the 10th century.1 year ago — Reviews -
New analysis of Forsa Ring offers fresh insight into Viking trade
Professor Rodney Edvinsson explains how a runic inscription could provide a clue to understanding the economic systems of the Viking Age.1 year ago — News -
Exploring Aros: The Viking roots of Aarhus, Denmark
Nowadays, Aarhus is a bustling and thriving European metropolis. It is Denmark's second-largest city and houses the country's largest port. However, the city boasts not only a rich economy but also a rich history that stretches back to the early medieval period when Vikings roamed the seas.2 years ago — History -
What was hacksilver? A look at its use as currency in medieval Scandinavia
Long before the great commercial hubs of Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm were built upon commerce, cash, and trade, people in Viking societies used an ingenious form of currency to trade, barter, and conduct business throughout Northern Europe and beyond.2 years ago — Partner content
