Ragnar Lothbrok and the Rus Trade Routes

Lucas and Luna explore the connection between the legendary Ragnar Lothbrok and the development of the Rus trade routes through Eastern Europe. Drawing on the Primary Chronicle, Ibn Fadlan's accounts, and archaeological evidence from Staraya Ladoga and the Dnieper River, they examine how the Norse expanded eastward, trading furs and slaves for silver dirhams from the Abbasid Caliphate. The episode discusses the role of the Volga and Dnieper routes, the Khazar Khaganate's tribute system, and the founding of Novgorod and Kyiv under Rurik and Oleg the Wise. They consider whether Ragnar's sons, like Björn Ironside, could have been part of this eastern expansion, and how the flow of Islamic silver into Scandinavia transformed Viking society, fueling raiding and the rise of powerful chieftains. The conversation also touches on the Byzantine Empire's influence and the Varangian guard, connecting the dots between the sagas and historical evidence.

#RagnarLothbrok #RusTradeRoutes #VikingAge #Varangians #PrimaryChronicle #IbnFadlan #StarayaLadoga #AbbasidCaliphate #Dirhams #KhazarKhaganate #Novgorod #Kyiv #Rurik #OlegTheWise #BjörnIronside #ByzantineEmpire #History #FexingoHistory

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