When most people think of Vikings, they picture longships sailing into misty fjords, the raids on Lindisfarne and the epic siege of Paris. The Vikings exploits in the West, England, Ireland, Normandy and North America is well covered. What about the Vikings who went east, who traded and fought along the rivers of what is now Russia, who served emperors in Byzantium and rubbed shoulders and swords with the Islamic world?
In Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin, historian Martyn Whittock turns his attention to this lesser-known but no less fascinating chapter in Norse history. The result is an engaging, informative, and readable book that introduces general audiences to a crucial part of the Viking world. While at the same time putting modern day events into historic perspective.
Whittock is no stranger to making complex history accessible (see his last book American Vikings) and Vikings in the East is no exception. His writing is clear and concise and the chapters are well-organized as he walks the line between storytelling and historical explanation with ease.
Whittock opens with a helpful overview of the Scandinavian world before heading into the eastward expansion of Norse traders, raiders, and settlers, primarily through the river systems of Eastern Europe.
The heart of the book lies in its portrayal of the Norse presence in the lands of the Rus. Whittock gives readers a guided tour through the formation of what would become Kievan Rus’, modern day Ukraine and Russia that bears the marks of both Slavic and Norse culture. He depicts the Vikings not just as outsiders but as integral participants in the region’s political and economic development. They weren’t just raiders or mercenaries they were also rulers and traders.
The chapters dealing with the Varangian Guard, the elite Norse warriors who served as bodyguards to the Byzantine emperors, are particularly strong. Whittock describes the awe these northern giants inspired in Constantinople and how their loyalty, discipline, and willingness to fight and die for foreign emperors earned them legendary status.
Whittock’s treatment of Viking encounters with the Islamic world is another compelling part of the book. While the history is somewhat fragmented, he pieces together a picture of trade routes stretching as far as Baghdad. Arabic silver flowed into Scandinavia in great quantities, and the hoards of dirhams found in Sweden are physical proof of this extensive contact.
Vikings in the East is a fantastic read. Whittock does an great job of introducing this vital piece of Viking history to a broad readership. He strips away the one-dimensional image of the Viking as a bloodthirsty marauder and replaces it with something far more complex: a mobile, adaptive, and cosmopolitan figure who could raid, rule, trade, or serve.
I thoroughly enjoyed Vikings in the East and recommend it to medievalists, Viking enthusiasts, history buffs or anyone curious about the medieval roots of Ukraine and Western Russia. It’s a well-written, well-paced, and engaging look into the eastward adventures of the Norse. It’s an enjoyable read that opens up a lesser-known Viking world in the East.
Medieval Archives gives Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin 4 out of 5 stars
Disclaimer: Medieval Archives received a complimentary copy of Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin for review purposes
To purchase a copy of Vikings in the East: From Vladimir the Great to Vladimir Putin visit the publisher’s website https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/vikings-in-the-east or find it on Amazon.com.
About the Author
Martyn Whittock
has written numerous educational and history books, including titles on
Viking and Anglo-Saxon history. He has been a consultant for the BBC, English Heritage and the National Trust and
has written for Medieval History magazine and other archaeological journals
