Tra l'VIII e il X secolo, le attività vichinghe si diressero in gran parte verso est. I mercanti-guerrieri scandinavi utilizzarono le vie fluviali che dall'Europa orientale portavano al Mar Nero. In questa regione, fondarono insediamenti commerciali – come quelli di Staraja Ladoga o Gnezdovo. Il grande numero di reperti archeologici ritrovati in questi centri documentano da una parte l’importante influenza scandinava sulla regione e dall’altra sottolineano l’ampiezza degli scambi commerciali del tempo. I viaggi dei Vichinghi, dapprima solamente stagionali, lasciarono ben presto il posto alla nascita di insediamenti stabili e alla creazione di legami con la popolazione autoctona. Queste interazioni contribuirono alla fondazione della Rus', un termine utilizzato per indicare sia un territorio che una popolazione. Nel IX secolo il sincretismo tra gruppi scandinavi, tribù slave, baltiche e ugrofinniche portò alla creazione di un regno, i cui centri principali erano Novgorod e Kiev. La Rus' raggiunse il primo apice della sua potenza sotto Vladimir I il Grande († 1015), che fece convertire al cristianesimo i suoi sudditi e si legò dinasticamente all’Impero bizantino.
Gotland, Pilgårds, 10th c.
Quartzite
Visby, Gotlands Museum, Inv. G 280
The runestone of Pilgards bears a runic inscription that gives an account of the journey of five brothers. They travelled on the rivers through Eastern Europe. At least one of the brothers died on the journey in a rapid on the Dnieper. Various stones were erected in his memory, including this runestone from Gotland.
Translated runic inscription:
“This brightly painted stone was set by Hegbjarn and his brothers Rodvisl, Austain and Emund. They set up stones in memory of Rafn south of Rufstain. They penetrated far into Aifor [name of a Dnieper rapid]. Vifil was in command.”
Production: Hacienda Film in cooperation with the Viking Ship Museum Oslo
Length: 03:45 min
Scandinavia and its inhabitants were characterized by great mobility, highly developed abilities in shipping and navigation as well as far-reaching trade relations. The film provides an insight into various aspects of the Viking Age Scandinavian world and sheds light on the way of life of its people: this includes shipping, navigation, trade, slavery and battle.
Objects used daily for everyday life during the Middle Ages were made from various materials. People lived a sustainable lifestyle and used (and reused) wood, bone, horn, antler, clay, fur, fabric and forged metals to produce what they needed – be it life essentials or accessories and ornaments.
Take a closer look at some objects and feel/touch them learning about their materials.
Many objects that we know and use today have been around for a very long time. Their design is so perfect that they have hardly changed over the centuries. Do you recognise archaeological objects from the 8th–10th centuries and identify what they were used for?
Try to find the modern equivalent. To do this, turn the inner wheel and find matching pairs. You will notice that the appearance and use of many objects have remained almost the same even after 1000 years.