The Eastern Way I

- 2 mins

The Eastern Way I

In this episode we begin our exploration of the Baltic Sea region by examining two very different sources of evidence which point to early Viking activities in the Eastern Baltic. First we discuss a dramatic tale which has come down to us from the pen of everyone’s favorite Icelandic author, Snorri Sturluson. This story centers around a certain Yngvarr, King of the Svear, and traces his dramatic demise at the hands of the Eistr.

We then step out of the world of literature and into the dirt to explore a remarkable archeological find which was recently uncovered on the Estonian island of Saaremaa. We talk monumental graves, ancient ships, informative skeletons and even discuss how we really are what we eat.

I hope you enjoy.

Sources

General

In Austrvegr: The Role of the Eastern Baltic in Viking Age Communication across the Baltic Sea by Marika Mägi

The Emergence of Rus 750 - 1200 by Simon Franklin and Jonathan Shepard

The Age of the Vikings by Anders Winroth

The Baltic Region, Russia, Byzantium and the Caliphate in The Vikings by Else Roesdahl. Translated by Kristen Williams and Susan Margeson

Chapter 6 - Across the Baltic in The Vikings: A history by Robert Ferguson

Part V: The Vikings in the East in The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Vikings by John Haywood

Scandinavians in European Russia by Thomas S. Noonan in The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings edited by Peter Sawyer

The Viking Age in Finland by Torsten Edgren in The Viking World edited by Stefan Brink in collaboration with Neil Price

The Vikings and the Eastern Baltic by Heiki Valk in The Viking World edited by Stefan Brink in collaboration with Neil Price

The Viking Rus and Byzantium by Jonathan Shepard in The Viking World edited by Stefan Brink in collaboration with Neil Price

Ynglinga saga

Ynglingatal edited by Edith Marold with the assistance of Vivian Busch, Jana Krüger, Ann-Dörte Kyas and Katharina Seidel, translated from German by John Foulks in Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages Volume One

Heimskringla I translated by Anthony Faulkes and Alison Finley.

The notes and introductions in both of these sources were essential references.

Salme

Rescue Excavations of A Vendel Era Boat-Grave in Salme, Saaremaa by Marge Konsa, Raili Allmäe and Liina Maldre

Isotopic Provenancing of the Salme ship burials in Pre-Viking Age Estonia by T. Douglas Price, Jüri Peets, Raili Allmäe, Liina Maldre and Ester Oras

Estonia: Salme Ship Burials by Emma Watts-Plumpkin

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