Varangian Trade Route

Timeline

1. c. 750–900Baltic–Ladoga–Novgorod · Eastern EuropeScandinavian merchants entered Lake Ladoga via the Baltic Sea, then ascended the Volkhov River to Novgorod, using the Eastern European river network to establish a seasonal caravan transport system.
2. 900–1050Dnieper trade route · Kievan Rus'Caravans departed from Novgorod or Kiev, sailed south along the Dnieper through the rapids, and reached the Byzantine capital Constantinople, where they concluded trade agreements with the empire and served in the Varangian Guard.
3. 1111–1120Novgorod–Baltic Sea segment · NovgorodIn the early 12th century Kievan Rus' fragmented politically, but Novgorod still maintained the fur trade with Scandinavia and the precursors of the Hanse through the Volkhov River–Lake Ladoga–Baltic Sea segment, and the northern section of the Varangian route remained busy.
4. 1120–1200Eastern European trade network · Eastern EuropeWith the threat of the Mongol invasions, the decline of Byzantium, and Hanseatic control of Baltic shipping, the importance of the traditional Varangian inland routes fell, and the focus of trade shifted to urban leagues and sea routes.