Sami Reindeer Herding

Timeline

1. 501–1100Northern Scandinavian Peninsula · ScandinaviaThe Sami gradually shifted from hunting wild reindeer to semi-domesticated management, controlling herds with fences, bait, and herding dogs, and began moving seasonally between mountain summer pastures and coastal winter pastures.
2. c. 1171–1180Finnmark Plateau · FinnmarkIn the 1170s Sami herders drove reindeer herds to graze on highlands in summer and migrate to coastal woodlands in winter, trading reindeer milk, meat, hides, and antlers for salt and iron goods from coastal Nordic merchants; reindeer herding had become a pillar of the regional economy.
3. c. 1175–1300Coastal trading post at Tromsø · NorwaySami reindeer herders formed seasonal trade networks with coastal communities of Norway and Sweden, sending furs and reindeer meat to southern markets; the Nordic kingdoms also began bringing Sami regions under taxation and jurisdiction, subjecting the herding economy to external political pressure.