[SpookBrat]

It's been a few months since we've studied this, but they took rivers in "Russia" as far as the Black Sea. I think they made it to Istanbul and Baghdad. They were in the Mediterranean and Africa. They were all over the place actually. (Don't have time to look it all up).

History Ping. :)

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Spooky. Looks like the Vikings really got around.

[Fedora]

Thanks for the info, SpookBrat and RightWhale. I was wondering if perhaps the Viking trade routes connected with the Far East at some point. Apparently the routes you mention did indeed connect with the Silk Road:

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Viking Conquests: Trade to the East

Russia. The Vikings branched into modern-day Russia and created lasting trade posts. The Slavs they found there called them "Rus," which meant "rowing-away" in the Old Nordic language and is similar to the Finish word for the Swedes, "ruotsi." The appellation Rus became the name of the ruling dynasty in the 9th century, and eventually led to the name of the largest country in the world, Russia.

The Vikings spread south into Kiev (Ukraine), expanding their trade along the Dneiper river. The Vikings took control of some of the Kievian lands. However, when the Vikings began to institute taxes on the local population, the Slavs revolted and chased them out of Kiev. However, after the Viking rulers were gone, the region descended into near anarchy. The nobles sought to end the in-fighting by bringing in a foreign king to make peace in the land, and the Vikings from Rus were invited back. The Vikings formed the Grand Duchy of Kiev, the first ducal duchy of Russia. (See more on the Grand Duchy of Kiev.)

The first capital of the Rus kingdom was in Novgorod. The Vikings who were invited into Russia remained in control of the Dneiper region until 1610, when the Romanov dynasty took power.

The Vikings continued south along the Volga river and its tributaries, trading on the Chinese silk routes.