9th–10th centuriesReputable sourceWell documented
Viking Trade: Silver, Slaves and Furs
On the timeline · around 9th–10th centuries ·
What happened
Along the eastern rivers the Rus grew rich trading furs, honey, amber and thousands of enslaved people to the Islamic world, hauling home vast quantities of Arab silver dirhams that flooded the Norse economy.
Why it matters
The Viking world ran on trade as much as plunder — a commercial network linking Scandinavia to Baghdad and turning raiders into some of medieval Europe's great merchants.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Kievan Rus · Reputable source