Rumo a Miklagarðr: conexões escandinavo-bizantinas na Era Viking

Abstract

From the second half of the 8th century onward, the Scandinavians began a process of maritime expansion directed both westward and eastward, with the latter being led primarily by factions originating from Sweden. Among the Scandinavian voyages of the Viking Age, lands under Byzantine influence were among the most sought-after destinations, where Scandinavian forces participated in defense operations and established consistent trade relations. What was the nature of the Scandinavian-Byzantine connectivity during the Viking Age? What were its repercussions for Byzantine and Scandinavian societies, particularly Swedish society? This article seeks to address these questions by engaging with textual, epigraphic, and archaeological documentation.